01-03 Appendix E - Lodging and Transportation of Trans Persons Flashcards
What is the Rationale?
The Toronto Police Service recognizes that special arrangements may have to be made to accommodate
The term trans is an umbrella term referring to people with diverse gender identities and expressions that differ from their assigned sex at birth. It includes but is not limited to people who identify as
transgender, trans woman (someone assigned male at birth who knows themself to be a woman), trans man (someone assigned female at birth who knows themself to be a man), non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender variant or gender queer. Some people may consider two-spirit to be a trans identity. Trans persons may or may not make a social transition, have surgery, use prosthetic devices or take prescription medications (such as hormone therapies), to affirm their gender identity. They may or may not have identity documents that reflect their lived identity
When interacting with trans persons, officers SHALL be
sensitive to needs and concerns without jeopardizing officer and prisoner safety.
In order to best address the specific needs or concerns of each person, each case must be assessed individually. To that end, the Officer in Charge SHALL determine
the best possible course of action in order to respect the dignity of the person being lodged or transported.
When lodging a trans person, the Officer in Charge SHALL comply with Standards of Conduct 1.9.2 - Respect for Gender Diversity and Trans-Inclusive Policing and determine the most appropriate placement of the individual. When a person has self-identified as trans, the Officer in Charge SHALL inform the person of
the features of each lodging type and consult with the person to take measures to lodge the persons in custody according to their self-identified gender or lodging preference. Members must ensure the safety of such persons, up to and including segregation from other persons in custody and transportation in a separate compartment or vehicle to and from court or between facilities.
Where the originating unit or central lock–up is not able to provide appropriate lodging facilities, the individual may be
lodged at another facility, if the Officer in Charge believes it is necessary to do so to protect the safety of the person. Prior to transporting an individual to another unit, the Officer in Charge SHALL contact the Officer in Charge of the receiving unit to confirm that they are able to lodge the person in such a manner that will address any safety concerns.
If there are specific overriding health and safety concerns that cannot be resolved, rendering the accommodation impossible and a trans person in custody cannot be accommodated in this regard, members SHALL clearly
articulate the reasons in their memorandum book; and ensure that the information regarding a trans person in custody’s gender identity or gender history is shared on a need-to-know basis only with those directly responsible for the safety of that person while they are in custody.
