After multiple surgeries, transgender inmate wants out of male prison
THANK YOU.
>>> THERE'S A NON
TRADITION PROBLEM
STARING THE STATE
CORRECTION SYSTEM
IN THE FACE.
THAT PROBLEM,
BORDER HOUSE
TRANSGENDER
INMATES.
AN INMATE WROTE TO
WRAL TELLING SHE'S
HAD MULTIPLE
SURGERIES TO
TRANSFORM FROM A
MAN TO A WOMAN AND
IS STILL ASSIGNED
TO A MEN'S PRISON.
WRAL AMANDA LAMB
INVESTIGATED.
>>Reporter: THE
STATE HAS A
COMPREHENSIVE POLL
SEE TO DEAL WITH
TRANSGENDER
INMATES.
BUT THIS IS LIKELY
THE FIRST TIME THEY
HAD A POST
OPERATIONAL
TRANSGENDER FEMALE
HOUSED IN A MALE
PRISON.
37-YEAR-OLD BROWN
WAS BORN MALE.
BUT SHE ALWAYS FELT
LIKE SHE WAS BORN
IN THE WRONG BODY.
IN 2012 SHE BEGAN A
SERIES OF SURGERIES
TO TRANSITION TO A
WOMAN.
FROM BREAST
AUGMENTATION TO
ANNIE REVERSAL MALE
TO FEMALE SURGERY
IN JULY OF 2017.
>> I AM A FEMALE
AND I'M GOING TO BE
TREATED AS A FEMALE
AND I -
>> IN OCTOBER OF
2017, BROWN WAS
SENTENCED TO NEARLY
TEN YEARS IN PRISON
FINANCE INSURANCE
FRAUD AND OTHER
CRIMES.
SHE'S LISTED AS
MALE UNDER HER
BIRTH NAME KEVIN
CHESTNUT AND
ASSIGNED TO HARNESS
CORRECTIONAL
INSTITUTION, A MALE
PRISON WHERE SHE
SLEEPS IN A ROOM
WITH 37 MEN AND
SHARES A BATHROOM
AND --
>> I HAVEN'T BEEN
SEXUALLY ASSAULTED,
BUT I DO FEAR WHEN
IT MAY HAPPEN DUE
TO THE SITUATION
I'M IN.
ME BEING A FEMALE
IN A MALE FACILITY.
>> SINCE 2017,
BROWN MADE PLEAS TO
THE FACILITIES
TRANSGENDER
ACCOMMODATION
REVIEW COMMITTEE,
AND TO THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC SAFETY
ASKING TO BE MOVED
TO A FEMALE PRISON.
>> I JUST DON'T
WANT TO BE AT A
MALE FACILITY
ANYMORE.
I DON'T THINK IT'S
FAIR.
I DON'T THINK IT'S
RIGHT.
>> I WORRY ABOUT
HER EMOTIONAL
STABILITY AND
MENTAL STABILITY IN
THE PLACE SHE'S AT.
>> BROWN'S FAMILY
INCLUDING HER
HUSBAND DION BROWN
ARE BEHIND HER.
>> EVERYBODY LOVES
HER.
EVERYBODY SHOULD
HAVE A SUPPORT
SYSTEM IN THEIR
LIFE ESPECIALLY
WHEN THEY'RE GOOD
INDIVIDUALS.
>> BROWN SAYS HIS
WIFE HAS REMORSE
FOR HER CRIMES --
>> HER WELL-BEING
AND SAFETY IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO ME AND
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT
THAT BECAUSE SHE'S
A FEMALE IN A
MALE'S PRISON.
>> DUE TO FEDERAL
PRIVACY LAWS, THE
DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC SAFETY CAN'T
TALK ABOUT THE
SPECIFICS OF THE
CASE, BUT THEY TELL
US IT'S UNDER
REVIEW BY A MULTI
DISCIPLINARY
COMMITTEE AND EVERY
SITUATION LIKE THIS
IS LOOKED AT ON A
CASE BY CASE BASIS.
>> BROWN NEEDS ONE
MORE SURGERY TO
COMPLETE HER
PHYSICAL
TRANSITION.
HE'S HOPEFUL SHE
CAN HAVE THE
SURGERY IN PRISON.
SHE'S ALSO HOPEFUL
THAT THE PRISON
SYSTEM WILL MOVE
HER TO A WOMAN'S
PRISON, IF NOT SHE
INTENDS TO FILE A