Approximately 124,200 adults self-identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual in U.S. prisons and jails, and over 6,000 adults self-identify as trans in state and federal prisons, according to an analysis released today by The Sentencing Project.
LGBTQ+ youth’s representation among the incarcerated population—at 7,300 youth—is double their share of the general population.
Women and girls drive the higher representation of LGBTQ+ people in prisons, jails, and youth facilities—as do LGBTQ+ people of color.
"Incarcerated LGBTQ+ Adults and Youth" examines the criminalization and over-incarceration of LGBTQ+ people in the United States, highlighting the drivers of overrepresentation and presenting recommendations for reform. To help alleviate the harms of incarceration, states and the federal government should:
- repeal laws that criminalize LGBTQ+ people
- limit the use of solitary confinement
- mandate access to gender-affirming health care in correctional facilities
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invest in drug and mental health treatment and reentry programs for LGBTQ+ youth and adults
Research on the intersection of incarceration with sexuality and gender identity is critical to understanding the full impacts of mass incarceration and developing policies that address the needs of vulnerable populations.
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