DOJ 24CS05: 2023 Resources for the Management of Transgender Individuals in Custody and Under Supervision

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Only one (1) application will be accepted from a submitting organization.

The transgender population has some very particular issues associated with aspects of the correctional experience, such as housing, classification, and placement; medical and mental health treatment; clothing and grooming; drug testing; and interactions with staff. As a general group, they are also more likely to be victims of sexually abusive acts while in custody according to surveys conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), which indicate that non-heterosexual adults report higher rates of sexual victimization while in custody.

As the last award for LGBTI work was in 2016, NIC is seeking now to refresh and expand the resources that are currently available, focusing on the transgender population specifically. NIC is soliciting proposals from organizations, groups, or individuals to enter into a cooperative agreement for at least a 12-month project period. Work under this agreement will include a literature review, formation of a working group of subject matter experts, a white paper containing findings and recommendations, the updating and development of policy guides, education and training tools, and other resource materials.

Understanding the challenges that transgender people now face is especially relevant to preparing transgender persons for successful reentry and completing successful supervision in the community. It should also be noted that the transgender population is somewhat overrepresented in the criminal legal system due in part to their involvement in activities that can lead to interaction with law enforcement. These activities can include sex work, drug sales and/or use, and other underground economy work cited in the USTS.

Foundational year work for the current project is focused on information gathering and includes a literature review, a review of existing research, legal precedents, federal and state statutes, and administrative rules along with the compiling of a bibliography and recommended glossary. Work will also include the conducting of focus groups with subject matter experts and advocates. This information will be used in the development of self-assessment policy guides for agencies that wish to examine their policies, practices, and training. The convening of a working group of eight to ten subject matter experts to act as content contributors and/or reviewers is a required element of this project. The NIC program manager will assist with the identification and facilitation of this working group.

It is anticipated that the policy guides will be used by individuals from federal, state, and local corrections agencies of all sizes and funding levels, including primarily correctional administrators, medical and mental health staff, and training coordinators. Consequently, the guides must provide sufficient rationale and background information where needed, be easy to understand and convenient to use, and provide resources for further study and follow up. Ultimately, the policy guides will allow users to determine best practices for their specific agency or facility; write policy, procedure, and post orders that will allow implementation and monitoring of these practices; and assist in the development of training and orientation materials.