Inmates at California’s largest women’s prison, the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, allege they are being harassed by Dana Rivers, a former transgender activist convicted of murder, as reported by the Washington Free Beacon. Rivers, convicted for the murder of a lesbian couple and their son, is claimed to be disrespectful, demeaning, and intrusive towards fellow inmates, even demanding they assist him with his mobility.
One inmate, Tomiekia Johnson, spoke about her discomfort due to Rivers’ behavior. Johnson, who lost her prison job after protesting against the housing of biological men within the facility, felt particularly disturbed after catching Rivers staring at her inappropriately.
Women II Women, an organization focused on the rise of transgender inmates in female prisons, has received numerous complaints about Rivers’ conduct. Amie Ichikawa, the group’s founder, and a former inmate at the same facility, expressed concerns about the potential impact on rehabilitation efforts, reported Daily Mail.
Rivers, formerly known as David Warfield, first drew attention in 1999 as a transgender activist after being dismissed from his teaching role for discussing his plans for sex reassignment surgery with students. After winning a legal settlement, he underwent the procedure and later became part of an all-female biker gang, the Deviants MC. Rivers was convicted for the gruesome murders of former gang member Charlotte Reed, her partner, and their son.
Despite Rivers’ brutal crime, his transfer to a women’s prison has been made possible by laws in several U.S. states, including California, that permit the incarceration of biological men in female prisons. A total of 52 male inmates have been moved to women’s prisons in California.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) stated that they couldn’t comment on the allegations due to privacy law but affirmed their commitment to providing a safe and respectful environment for all inmates, including the transgender, non-binary, and intersex community.