In a rare instance of good common sense, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a bill that prohibits the mingling of opposite genders in state prisons.
House Bill 3022 makes it state law that changing rooms, sleeping quarters and restrooms inside state prisons for women shall only be for biological women. The same goes for men.
The bill passed 77-18.
The bill’s author, Criminal Justice Committee Chairman Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, said too many people are being sexually assaulted in multiple state prisons and this is meant to be part of a larger crackdown.
“It’s time that we take back our penitentiaries. It’s time that we do put common sense, that we put men in men’s prisons, women in women’s prisons, that we protect all people. We make sure all people are safe to be in the penitentiary, that we have a duty, it’s our custodial duty to make sure that do that,” Humphrey said.
Humphrey said he believes the way the law is written, if someone has fully transitioned and completed gender confirmation surgery, they will be allowed to be housed in a prison with the gender they transitioned to.
If there are any violations of the purposed policy, inmates can sue the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for damages.
The bill will now move to the Senate for consideration.