A transgender individual, Amanda Joy Cooper, who has been incarcerated as a dangerous offender since 2001 for sex crimes against multiple women, is seeking a transfer from a men’s prison to a women’s facility post her gender reassignment surgery. Correctional authorities have resisted Cooper’s requests for transfer, citing concerns about her potential to reoffend and past problematic behavior towards female staff.
A court hearing scheduled for next week will address Cooper’s plea, with her legal representative from Nova Scotia advocating for her relocation to a women’s prison based on her revised gender status and safety fears in a male correctional environment. Although the placement of transgender inmates has been a contentious issue, Cooper, having undergone full gender surgery, stands as one of the few in federal detention denied transfer to a women’s prison.
The current federal policy permits transgender inmates to apply for placement based on their gender identity or expression, with evaluations considering individual needs, risks, and safety aspects. Recent data from Corrections Canada reveals that out of 129 requests from male-assigned birth inmates to be moved to women’s facilities, approximately three dozen were approved, while the rest were either rejected or withdrawn.
Cooper, born in 1967 in Montreal, has a history of sexual offenses committed before transitioning to a woman. Following her gender affirmation surgery in 2024, she now identifies as female, with correctional records reflecting her updated sex. However, concerns have been raised about her behavior and past offenses, posing challenges to her transfer to a women’s prison.
Despite Cooper’s legal team’s arguments in favor of her immediate transfer, Correctional Service of Canada has expressed apprehensions about relocating her to a women’s facility due to her history of verbal abuse towards female staff and potential risks of reoffending. The service contends that introducing Cooper to a women’s prison would necessitate heightened security measures, potentially causing discomfort among other inmates.
Cooper’s case underscores the complexities surrounding the placement of transgender inmates in correctional settings, balancing individual rights with safety considerations. While Cooper asserts her right to be housed according to her gender identity, concerns persist about the implications of such transfers on overall prison dynamics and the safety of inmates.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the decision regarding Cooper’s transfer will likely set a precedent for future cases involving transgender individuals in correctional facilities.