Letter to Sheriffs in New York State Regarding the Treatment of Transgender People in Custody

In partnership with the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, the New York Civil Liberties Union wrote this letter to all Sheriffs in New York State to highlight a recent settlement in our lawsuit against the Broome County Jail that established a policy clarifying the proper treatment of transgender people relating to housing placement, safety, access to medical care, name and pronouns use, search procedures, and grooming standards while in custody.

The sheriffs of Broome County and Steuben County have each stated publicly that their new policies provide clarity and necessary guidance to ensure the lawful treatment of transgender people in custody. We urge you to consider adopting a similar policy in your County.