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Youth Services Juvenile detention center in NE Washington, D.C.
The trans girl was reportedly housed in a boys' unit.
A transgender girl housed in a male unit at Washington, D.C.’s Youth Services Center was hospitalized with a broken jaw after a fight last week that also injured another teen, D.C.’s NBC affiliate WRC reports.
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The two separate fights broke out July 7 at the Northeast D.C. juvenile facility, which was over capacity by 17 people that day, city data show. Five teens have been charged with new violations related to the assault involving the transgender girl, according to WRC. City officials said the fights were unrelated and that staff were present during both incidents.
The Youth Services Center is the District’s secure detention facility for male and female youth held by court order from the D.C. Superior Court’s Family Court Division. The 88-bed facility provides 24-hour care, custody, and supervision, housing youth awaiting court proceedings, those who have been adjudicated, and those pending further court action, as well as youth charged as adults, according to the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services.
An official with DYRS told The Advocate that staff responded swiftly to both incidents to intervene and safeguard the young people. Injured teens were treated by medical staff and transported for further care when necessary, the official said. According to the agency, DYRS leadership launched a full review and contacted the Metropolitan Police Department. The teens involved had been separated and reassigned to different housing units as a precaution, they added.
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DYRS Director Sam Abed said in a statement to The Advocate that the agency is “deeply committed to the safety, security, and well-being of every young person in our care,” and called the incidents unacceptable. “We appreciate our staff for their quick actions in de-escalating the situations,” Abed said. “These incidents do not reflect the values or standard of care we aim to uphold. We remain dedicated to creating an environment where young people can focus on rehabilitation, personal growth, and long-term success.”
An official with DYRS said, “The agency has an LGBTQI policy that was followed by facility staff,” but did not explain whether or why the injured child was housed in a unit that did not correspond with their gender identity.
The 2012 policy says its goal is to create “a safe, healthy, accepting environment” for LGBTQ+ youth and prevent harassment and discrimination. The policy states, “DYRS staff shall provide the highest quality of services to youth regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Staff shall provide fair and equal treatment to all youth in DYRS care and custody, and shall protect youth from harassment and discrimination.”
Regarding housing decisions, the policy explicitly says, “Transgender and intersex youth shall not automatically be housed according to their genitalia. In addition to the general considerations that apply to all classification and housing decisions, DYRS staff shall make housing decisions for transgender youth taking into account the youth’s perception of where he or she will be most secure, as well as any recommendations from the youth’s health care provider.”
The Advocate has contacted the office of D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the office of Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Lindsey Appiah for further comment.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
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