The Chicago Police Department adopted a new policy for respectfully handling transgender suspects on August 22nd of this year. The changes have been supported by multiple transgender-rights organizations, and were not formally announced by the police department.
The new policy prohibits an officer from searching a person to determine their gender and requires that transgender individuals be detained alone when space is available instead of in a collective holding cell. It also requires that transgender detainees have access to hormones they are currently using and prohibits syringes used for hormone therapy to be used as evidence of a crime.
Some transgender advocacy organizations are hesitant to celebrate the new policy because responsibility for enforcement lies with the police department and relies heavily on government issued identification.
Media Resources: Human Rights Campaign 9/4/12; Windy City Times 9/4/12
