Prairie State Wire

Awake Illinois announced on X that men are being housed in female prisons in Illinois and alleged that female inmates have been raped as a result.

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), transgender and gender nonconforming offenders are placed in gender-specific facilities based on an individualized assessment by a Transgender Administrative Committee, not solely on their genital anatomy. The policy is subject to semiannual review to ensure the safety of all involved inmates. This context supports Awake Illinois’s reference to housing based on gender identity.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) release revealed that 85 transgender inmates are housed at Logan Correctional Center, a women’s prison, including 12 who are biologically male. Critics argue that the presence of biological males in a women’s facility has heightened concerns about inmate safety and increased potential risks of sexual violence. Such data is frequently cited by groups opposing these policies.

In 2020, a female inmate at Logan Correctional Center filed a federal lawsuit alleging she was raped by a transgender inmate and that her complaint was dismissed under the Prison Rape Elimination Act. The lawsuit claimed that the assailant was "stronger" and "built like a man," leading officials to initially dismiss the assault as a false report. This court case has been referenced in debates about the adequacy of Illinois’s gender-based prison placement and protection protocols.

Awake Illinois is a registered 501(c)(4) nonprofit social welfare and civic organization that launched in May 2021. As noted on its official site, it comprises more than 30 county-based chapters statewide and relies on volunteer leadership to promote advocacy on education, parental rights, and civic engagement. Awake Illinois engages in grassroots activism and public commentary on state policies.