Washington, DC — The Department of Justice released two long-awaited reports this week on sexual violence in U.S. prisons and jails, but the findings notably exclude data on transgender incarcerated people, despite evidence that such information was collected during the surveys.
The reports, issued by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, are part of the National Inmate Survey and mark the first comprehensive update since 2013 and the implementation of the Prison Rape Elimination Act. While the surveys asked incarcerated individuals whether they were transgender, the DOJ omitted those results, along with other demographic data such as race and sexual orientation. Officials said additional demographic breakdowns may be released in 2026, but advocates remain skeptical.
The omission comes days after a memo obtained by Prism outlined plans by the Trump administration to roll back PREA protections for transgender and intersex prisoners, including housing considerations, private shower access, and staff training requirements. Advocacy groups warn that removing both data transparency and protections could increase sexual violence against already vulnerable populations.
Research from earlier DOJ surveys found that nearly 40% of transgender incarcerated people reported sexual victimization in a single year, far higher than the general prison population. Experts say the absence of updated data makes it harder to monitor abuse, improve prison practices, or challenge claims that transgender inmates pose risks to others.
Sources:
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Bureau of Justice Statistics – Unrated
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Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law – Unrated
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Vera Institute of Justice – Unrated
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