A disturbing new report has alleged that a female prisoner in Massachusetts was thrown into solitary confinement after she reported being raped by a transgender inmate housed in the state's only all-female prison.
Allegations of Retaliation and Abuse
According to an investigation by The Hill, MCI-Framingham is punishing biological women who speak out about alleged abuse perpetrated by transgender inmates. One anonymous woman, fearing retaliation, told investigators she informed prison officials in November that she was sexually assaulted by a male prisoner who identifies as transgender.
Instead of receiving support, the woman claims she was placed in restrictive housing. She is reportedly allowed out of her cell only once per day for a brief shower. "It feels like I'm being punished for speaking up," the prisoner stated. "They are treating me as if I should have kept my mouth shut."
Controversial Policy and High-Profile Inmates
The situation stems from Massachusetts's 2018 Criminal Justice Reform, which permits biologically male offenders convicted of serious violent crimes to be housed in female prisons if they identify as women. The policy also mandates that transgender inmates are searched, housed, and addressed according to their self-identified gender.
The report highlights several high-profile transgender inmates now living at MCI-Framingham:
- Kenneth Hunt (Katheena): Serving life for sexually assaulting and murdering two women in the 1980s.
- Robert Koselik (Michelle): Serving life for the 1990 strangulation murder of his then-wife, Cheryl McCaul.
- Charlese Horton (formerly Charles): A level three sex offender convicted of kidnapping and repeatedly raping a 14-year-old at gunpoint. Horton was transferred to the female prison in July.
- Wayne 'Veronica' Raymond: Imprisoned for life for raping multiple children.
The investigation notes that a number of these inmates have stopped hormone treatments since arriving at Framingham.
Systemic Issues and Lack of Resolution
Beyond individual cases, the report outlines systemic problems. Female inmates are compelled to share communal spaces, including showers, with transgender prisoners. Despite a designated shower period for transgender inmates, the report claims they often shower alongside other women.
Furthermore, female prison officers are required to conduct strip searches on transgender inmates who specifically request an officer of the same "gender identity."
To date, no transgender prisoner has been removed from MCI-Framingham as a result of these allegations. The Massachusetts Department of Corrections was contacted for comment by The Daily Mail regarding the claims made in the report.
