The Illinois Department of Corrections this week moved Strawberry Hampton,27, to an all-female prison in Lincoln. (Photo from Uptown People’s Law Center Facebook page)
By Howard Packowitz
LINCOLN – A women’s prison at the Logan County Correctional Center in Lincoln is now home to a transgender prisoner who allegedly suffered repeated abuse and sexual assaults while being housed in various prisons for men.
A news release from Chicago-based Uptown People’s Law Center and the MacArthur Justice Center said the Illinois Department of Corrections earlier this week moved Strawberry Hampton,27, from Dixon, one of four men’s prisons where she claimed to have been held and subjected to various abuse.
The transfer to Lincoln culminates a year-long legal battle seeking to protect Hampton from what the news release stated were repeated sexual assaults and harassment by correctional officers.
Last month, a federal judge ordered the IDOC to re-evaluate its denial of Hampton’s request to move to a women’s prison, and develop training for its staff on transgender issues.
The lawsuits alleged a group of correctional officers ordered Hampton to strip to her underwear and forced her to perform sex acts with a cellmate.
MacArthur Justice Center’s Vanessa del Valle said Hampton has fought every day to be free of sexual violence, and have the IDOC recognize she’s a woman.
“This transfer, which occurred after a year of hard fought litigation and two emergency hearings, is a victory for her and a testament to her strength and courage. But IDOC has done nothing to remedy the systemic failures that created the persistent harm Strawberry has endured since she entered IDOC custody. The fight for Strawberry and for all trans women in IDOC has only just begun,” del Valle also said.
“We are glad to see that Strawberry has been moved to a prison where she has a chance to be safe, and to receive the health care she needs. We look forward to the day when every prisoner can feel safe in all of Illinois’ prisons, said Alan Mills, executive director of the Uptown People’s Law Center.
“Strawberry doesn’t belong in a women’s prison, she belongs at home with her family. But until she’s home, the very least the IDOC can do is to take this step towards remedying the discrimination and sexual violence Strawberry currently lives with on a daily basis, said Sheila Bedi of the MacArthur Justice Center.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
