Prison campaigners welcome move of trans prisoner Sophie Eastwood to male jail
Prison campaigners have welcomed the move of controversial trans prisoner Sophie Eastwood to a male jail.But the Keep Prisons Single Sex organisation has demanded moves for all prisoners in the female estate who were born male.Its spokesperson, Dr Kate Coleman, spoke out after the Record revealed Eastwood had been moved from women’s prison Cornton Vale to HMP Shotts.Coleman said Scotland should use the model of England and Wales, where all male-born are held in the male estate.She said: “I am, of course, relieved this prisoner, who has a history of violence in prison, has finally been removed to the male estate.“The question remains – why Eastwood and why now?
Male prisoners currently in the female estate in Scotland have offending profiles and proven risk to women similar to Eastwood.“Has an incident occurred which explains Eastwood’s transfer, or does this indicate a change of policy?” Last week Eastwood, 38, who entered the prison estate as Daniel, was moved after six years at Cornton Vale.In recent years the Scottish Prison Service has housed prisoners according to the gender they have chosen for themselves.But the outcry over Isla Bryson – known as Adam Graham when carrying out violent sex attacks on two women – led to a decree that no male-born prisoners who have committed sexual or violent crimes against women will be held in female prisons.Bryson was earmarked for Cornton Vale but that was stopped after a row.Coleman blasted a delay in an SPS review of trans prisoners and the prison estate.
She said: “SPS first stated the policy that provides for the management of prisoners who identify as transgender was under review in late 2018.“The final revised policy is still nowhere to be seen.
