US: Trans teen Jane Doe moved to juvenile home for boys in Connecticut
A transgender 16-year-old girl has been moved to Connecticut’s juvenile home for boys after a long and tumultuous history of being under the care of the Department of Correction.
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) said earlier this week that the girl, who is being referred to as Jane Doe because she is a minor, destroyed property and assaulted two people at the Children’s Psychiatric Center in Middletown, Conn. which prompted the move.
Jane Doe was originally housed in an adult women’s prison – without having criminal charges filed – for over 50 days until being moved to a psychiatric facility early last month.
She has been in solitary living spaces for most of her time in Department of Correction care.
The teen was originally placed in DCF custody at the age of five because her father was incarcerated and her mother was addicted to drugs. Jane Doe stated in her affidavit that she is a survivor of sexual abuse and sex work. She also reported experiencing physical abuse by her previous legal guardians.
The girl was transferred out of DCF custody after officials told a judge in April that she was too dangerous for them to handle, requesting that a state judge transfer her into the Department of Correction’s custody.
This request came after the girl allegedly attacked a DCF staff member by biting them, pulling their hair, and kicking them in the head. The judge approved the request in April, citing a seldom-used state law.
Originally the state wanted to place her in a men’s prison, but her lawyers advocated for her to be sent to a women’s facility.
Jane Doe’s story has captured the attention of many transgender rights activists who have been rallying for the girl’s release for months, including Janet Mock who wrote a letter in solidarity.
In a letter written to Connecticut’s governor while she was being held in the women’s prison, the teen wrote: “I feel forgotten and thrown away. As you probably know, these feeling are not new for me. This is the way my life has been going since I was a little kid…
“If this is helping me then I’m all set with being helped. I would be a lot better off being on my own. It seems like you’re my last chance to get out of here. Don’t forget about me. I can’t take another month of this.”
