Trans prisoner granted appeal after being jailed in men’s prison
A trans woman has been granted leave to appeal her sentence, after being sent to a men’s prison.
It emerged yesterday that 26 year old trans woman Tara Hudson has been sentenced to 12 weeks in the all-male Bristol Prison after an assault.
Current policy states that a Gender Recognition Certificate is required for trans prisoners to be placed in the correct prison for their gender, which Ms Hudson did not have despite living full-time as female for six years.
Her MP Ben Howlett has spoken out against the treatment, and raised the issue before Parliament’s Women and Equalities Select Committee today – while Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has also said he will raise the case.
Ms Hudson has now been given leave to appeal against the sentence itself for the assault conviction.
The prisoner will appear before Bristol Crown Court on Friday, appealing against the severity of the sentence, arguing she should be given a non-custodial sentence instead.
Her mother Jackie Brooklyn told the Bath Chronicle that she is hoping for a non-prison sentence, such as an electronic tag or alcohol awareness.
She said: “I think it’s appropriate she comes out on a tag.
“There’s been so many people signing the petition that hopefully something gets done. It’s a step in the right direction.”
A petition calling for Tara to be removed from the male-only prison has attracted nearly 60,000 supporters in just two days.
