The case of double rapist Isla Bryson has sparked a heated debate over whether transgender prisoners should be housed in male or female prisons. Bryson, who was known as Adam Graham when they committed two rapes in Clydebank and Glasgow in 2016 and 2019, changed gender while awaiting trial. The 31-year-old was initially remanded to a women’s jail after being found guilty, but was then moved to a men’s facility due to concerns about the safety of any women held alongside a transgender sex offender in a female jail.
This ultimately led to an urgent review and a change in policy which will see all newly-convicted or remanded transgender prisoners initially placed in jails according to their birth sex. During the trial, prosecutors said Bryson had “preyed” on vulnerable women who he met online. Bryson’s estranged wife, Shonna Graham, said the focus should be on the victims and that Bryson should serve the sentence in a man’s jail. She also alleged that Bryson had attempted to rape her and stabbed her while they were together.
Bryson was sentenced to eight years in prison and will be supervised for three years after release due to the judge’s assessment that they posed a high risk of reoffending. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament that Bryson would not be incarcerated in Cornton Vale “either short-term or long-term”. The Scottish government has stressed that the case is not connected to the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which has not yet been enacted and was blocked from becoming law by the UK government.
The case of Isla Bryson has raised important questions about how transgender prisoners should be treated in the criminal justice system. There are relatively few trans prisoners in Scotland, with 12 trans women and three trans men between October and December 2022, compared to 7,019 male prisoners and 265 female inmates. The debate over how to ensure the safety of both transgender and non-transgender inmates is ongoing.
The case of Isla Bryson has brought attention to the issue of transgender prisoners in Scotland and the need for clear policies to ensure their safety and wellbeing. The urgent review into the case led to a change in policy which will see all newly-convicted or remanded transgender prisoners initially placed in jails according to their birth sex. However, there are still questions over how best to ensure the safety of both transgender and non-transgender inmates. The Scottish government has stressed that the case is not connected to the Gender Recognition Reform Bill, which has not yet been enacted and was blocked from becoming law by the UK government.