Psychologist Reveals Missteps in California's Transgender Prison Policy
A former prison psychologist, Dr. Jack Miller, has disclosed that Tremaine Carroll, a prisoner who identifies as transgender, should not have been transferred to the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF). Carroll, 51, faces trial over allegations of raping two female inmates after his transfer in August 2021. Dr. Miller characterizes Carroll as someone who exploits the prison system to secure better conditions, including a transfer to a women's facility under California Senate Bill 132.
Carroll, described as a repeat offender under California's three-strikes law, was moved back to an all-male facility, Kern Valley State Prison, following the allegations. Dr. Miller asserts that Carroll’s history of gaming the system was a red flag overlooked during the transfer approval process. Carroll is due in Madera Superior Court on July 8 for a preliminary hearing.
Senate Bill 132, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2020, allows inmates to request transfers based on gender identity without requiring physical changes like hormone therapy. The policy aims to protect transgender inmates from abuse in male prisons but has raised concerns among women’s rights groups about safety in women’s facilities.
The CDCR reports 345 requests from male inmates seeking to transfer to women’s prisons, of which 46 have been approved. Meanwhile, 16 women have sought transfers to male facilities, with three approvals. The department maintains that they carefully vet all requests. Transgender advocacy organizations argue the bill protects vulnerable inmates, while critics claim it inadvertently endangers female prisoners.