{"id":2604681,"date":"2026-05-19T19:22:05","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T23:22:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-opens-third-state-investigation-over-wa-housing-men-in-womens-prisons\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T19:23:58","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T23:23:58","slug":"doj-opens-third-state-investigation-over-wa-housing-men-in-womens-prisons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-opens-third-state-investigation-over-wa-housing-men-in-womens-prisons\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ opens third state investigation over WA housing men in women\u2019s prisons"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-opens-third-state-investigation-over-wa-housing-men-in-womens-prisons%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2604681&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The U.S. Department of Justice launched a third federal civil rights inquiry into a state\u2019s housing of transgender women assigned male at birth in women\u2019s prisons. This time, the target is Washington state\u2019s Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor near Tacoma, where federal officials are assessing whether the facility has a \u201cpattern or practice\u201d of violating constitutional rights-specifically allegations that female inmates faced sexual violence, intimidation, and related safety risks.<\/p>\n<p>In a letter to Governor Bob Ferguson (D), DOJ cited concerns including sexual assault, rape, voyeurism, sexual intimidation, and broader harms tied to the state\u2019s placement practices. DOJ officials said they would close the investigation if no constitutional violations are found, or report findings and work with the state to remedy systemic violations if they are.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation reflects a broader federal push during the Trump administration against transgender prison housing policies, including similar DOJ actions in California and Maine under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act.It also comes amid ongoing constitutional challenges to federal and state efforts related to prison transfers and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/majority-of-states-taking-on-house-democrats-equality-act\/\" title=\"Majority of states taking on House Democrats... Equality Act\">gender-affirming medical care<\/a>.Washington\u2019s Department of Corrections said it received notice of the investigation, plans to cooperate, and maintains that it is committed to providing a safe surroundings for all incarcerated people.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> opened a third federal civil rights investigation Tuesday into a state housing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/transgender\/\">transgender<\/a> women assigned male at birth in women\u2019s prisons, this time targeting <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/washington\/\">Washington<\/a> state over allegations that female inmates were exposed to sexual violence and intimidation at a women\u2019s correctional facility near Tacoma.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/crt\/media\/1441251\/dl\">letter sent<\/a> to Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3289324\/bob-ferguson-sworn-in-as-washington-governor-delivers-inaugural-address\/\">Bob Ferguson<\/a> (D), the DOJ announced it would investigate whether the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor engaged in a \u201cpattern or practice\u201d of violating the constitutional rights of female inmates by housing transgender in the facility.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4575185\/doj-third-state-inquiry-washington-housing-men-in-women-prisons\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ opens third state investigation over Washington housing men in women\u2019s prisons<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4575281\/abigail-spanberger-veto-virginia-marijuana-market-bill\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Spanberger vetoes marijuana market bill<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4574112\/democrats-angry-theyre-not-getting-their-way-guy-benson\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Democrats are angry they\u2019re not getting their way: Guy Benson<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>The inquiry marks the latest escalation in the Trump administration\u2019s nationwide push against transgender prison housing policies. In March, the DOJ launched <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4507472\/doj-california-men-women-prisons\/\">similar investigations<\/a> into <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/California\/\">California<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maine\/\">Maine<\/a> under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, arguing that certain state policies may violate the Eighth Amendment\u2019s protections against cruel and unusual punishment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>\u201cUnder my leadership, the Civil Rights Division will not allow women incarcerated in jails or prisons to be subject to unconstitutional risks of harm from male inmates,\u201d said <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/harmeet-dhillon\/\">Harmeet Dhillon<\/a>, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division. \u201cThe constitutional rights of women cannot be sacrificed at the altar of appeasing unsupported and dangerous ideologies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Interim U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd said Washington \u201cmust protect women inmates from the inherent dangers of incarcerating them with biological men.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Investigators will examine allegations involving sexual assault, rape, voyeurism, sexual intimidation, and broader safety concerns tied to the state\u2019s housing practices at the prison, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-notifies-washington-investigation-whether-housing-biological-men-womens\">according<\/a> to a DOJ press release.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf we ultimately determine that there are no constitutional violations present at this facility, we will notify you that we are closing the investigation,\u201d Dhillon wrote in the letter to the governor. \u201cIf we determine that there are systemic violations, we will inform you of our findings and attempt to work with the State to remedy those violations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The investigation comes as the Trump administration continues defending President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s executive order signed on his first day in office last year, which directed the federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bureau-of-prisons\/\">Bureau of Prisons<\/a> to remove biological men from female federal prisons and halt federal funding for gender transition-related medical procedures and drugs for inmates.<\/p>\n<p>The order immediately triggered a series of constitutional challenges from civil rights groups, including lawsuits arguing that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >transferring transgender women assigned male<\/a> at birth to male prisons exposes them to a heightened risk of abuse in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Other litigation has focused on the administration\u2019s rollback of hormone therapy and gender dysphoria treatment for federal prisoners.<\/p>\n<p>Federal courts have recently begun siding with the administration on prison transfer policies, allowing the Bureau of Prisons to move forward with transferring transgender women assigned male at birth into male facilities while broader litigation continues, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/media.cadc.uscourts.gov\/opinions\/docs\/2026\/04\/25-5099-2169119.pdf\">according<\/a> to a D.C. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-clashes-over-bid-to-execute-boston-marathon-bomber\/\" title=\"Supreme Court Clashes Over Bid To Execute Boston Marathon Bomber\">federal appeals court decision<\/a> last month.<\/p>\n<p>The Washington investigation also follows <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.americafirstpolicy.com\/assets\/uploads\/files\/AFPI_WDOC_Complaint_04.27.26.pdf\">a recent lawsuit filed<\/a> by the America First Policy Institute against the state by a female inmate who alleged she was physically assaulted by a transgender prisoner at the Gig Harbor facility.<\/p>\n<p>Tacoma has also seen another disturbing incident that could have implications for the DOJ\u2019s investigation, after a 25-year-old transgender woman assigned male at birth defendant was charged with first-degree rape of a child and sexual exploitation of an infant girl in March. William \u201cIsabelle\u201d Kelso Flournoy IV, 25, was formerly part of a youth-focused board working on Pierce County homelessness and housing instability, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thenewstribune.com\/news\/local\/crime\/article315018066.html\">according<\/a> to The <em>News Tribune<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4507472\/doj-california-men-women-prisons\/\">DOJ INVESTIGATES CALIFORNIA POLICY OF PLACING BIOLOGICAL MEN IN WOMEN\u2019S PRISONS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Washington\u2019s Department of Corrections currently allows transgender inmates to request placement in gender-affirming housing following individualized assessments conducted under standards tied to the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDOC was notified of the investigation this morning,\u201d Washington Department of Corrections spokesperson Chris Wright wrote in a statement. \u201cWe are reviewing the letter from the Department of Justice and plan to cooperate with federal investigators. We are currently defending litigation on both sides of the policy, by the ACLU and the Foundation Against Intolerance and Racism. DOC remains committed to upholding the rights and providing a safe environment for all incarcerated individuals in our custody.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ begins third rights probe into Washington women\u2019s prison policies<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2604684,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25219590138446.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[7076,32671,8327,9646],"class_list":["post-2604681","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-doj","tag-housing-policy","tag-investigations","tag-prisons"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/AP25219590138446.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604681","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2604681"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604681\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2604686,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2604681\/revisions\/2604686"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2604684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2604681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2604681"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2604681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}