Rikers Island Staff Allegedly Encouraged Male Inmate to Pose as Transgender, Leading to Sexual Assault

Lawsuit claims prison officials ignored complaints and were part of a cover-up for sexual assaults in the women's ward.

A lawsuit filed in November 2023 alleges that a male inmate at Rikers Island prison was encouraged by staff to identify as transgender to gain access to the women's ward, where he allegedly sexually assaulted a female inmate.
The male inmate, who had been under investigation for involvement in an intra-prison prostitution ring and had five separate allegations related to prison rape, allegedly admitted to not being transgender or gay, but pretended to be so to 'have sex' with female inmates.
The female inmate, identified as 'Rose Doe', reported the male inmate's inappropriate comments and physical assault to prison officials, but her complaints were allegedly ignored.
The lawsuit also claims that the male inmate was placed in the women's center as part of a cover-up for the sexual assaults that prison staff knew had taken place.
The male inmate was transferred to a maximum security male facility a year later, while 'Rose Doe' was released from Rikers Island in August 2022.