Intersecting identities in carceral spaces: Do race and a stigmatized occupational status increase the risk of violent in-prison victimization of justice-involved trans women?

• In Event: Research in Queer Victimology

Abstract

In response to recent calls for research on gender-based violence, including prison violence against transgender people, this study examines the correlates of prison victimization reported by a national sample of justice-involved trans women. The analysis is informed by Finkelhor and Asdigian’s (1996) revised model of victimization. Out of 739 trans females included in the analysis, 22.6% reported being physically and/or sexually victimized by other inmates and 11.8% acknowledged being victimized by corrections officers. The risk of violent victimization increased significantly with an increase in the length of incarceration and was significantly higher for sex workers and trans women with mental health disabilities. Although initial analyses showed that compared to their White counterparts, trans women of color (except Asian) were more likely to report victimization during incarceration, when controlling for occupation, disability status, education, and length of incarceration, only Native American trans women had a significantly higher risk of in-prison violent victimization. The implications of the findings and the study limitations will be also discussed.

Authors

• Bryan C. Moore, University of Southern Indiana

• Viviana Andreescu, University of Louisville