I saw one of the m/disinfo communities on here post this and make generic anti-trans hay about it in lieu of critical thinking ability or useful commentary. Seems like this decision was made strongly based on this individual’s history and that everyone’s safety was considered. Hardly a referendum on ‘trans issues’

A judge has ruled against a transgender inmate with a lengthy record of sex crimes involving women, refusing her request to order the Correctional Service of Canada to move her from the men’s prison system into a women’s institution.

Amanda Cooper, who has been incarcerated as a dangerous offender since 2001 for crimes committed when she identified as a man, underwent full gender surgery two years ago, and argued she feared for her safety in a men’s prison and was in self-imposed isolation.

Correctional authorities, however, refused the 59-year-old’s requests to move to a women’s institution, citing her risk and the safety of other women inmates. Cooper filed for a judicial review, which was heard last month in Federal Court in a virtual hearing out of Halifax.

  • TheTechnician27@lemmy.worldEnglish
    18·
    18 hours ago

    Fuhrer’s decision detailed a catalogue of sex crimes committed by Cooper. Those include attacking strangers in parking lots and at a bus stop in the 1990s. While incarcerated, she has been accused of sexually assaulting correctional and parole staff.

    Last year, she became increasingly verbally abusive, according to an affidavit from a correctional official. She was fixated on a particular female staff member, and was denied access to a number of others due to “inappropriate behaviour and comments,” the judge said.

    “The evidence discloses a pattern of escalating aggressive, violent behaviour, mostly toward women, by Ms. Cooper,” Fuhrer wrote.

    According to the ruling, Cooper admitted she had many more victims than indicated by her criminal convictions. When she arrived at Atlantic Institution following her gender surgery, she was apparently hiding razor blades in her sneakers, the judge said.

    I mean, yeah. Obviously AFAB can be lesbian sex offenders too, but you’re talking about someone who’s sexually assaulted many female victims in the past, still hasn’t changed their ways and finds targets even in an all-male-inmate prison, was incarcerated when she still identified as male and seemingly has been for a long time, has (per the judge) failed to show that her safety in the male prison isn’t being respected, and has allegedly gotten even worse in the past year.

    Not only is this likely saving a lot of inmates at the female prison from being sexually assaulted, but it’s probably safer for Cooper herself. I know Canadian prisons are better-maintained than US ones, but I still can’t imagine the target painted on her back when inmates hear there’s an older trans woman with an extensive history of sexually assaulting women who petitioned to be transferred – let alone if she tries to continue that behavior.