Failing to Protect and Serve: Police Department Policies Towards Transgender People

During interactions with law enforcement, transgender people are prone to experiencing harassment, abuse, or other mistreatment by the police. This report evaluates police departments across the country by assessing factors such as non-discrimination statements, recognition of non-binary identities in applicable policies, use of respectful communication, recording information in department forms, search procedures, transportation, placement in temporary lock-up facilities, access to medication, removal of appearance related items, training, and bathroom access. For each topic, model policies are provided that can and should be adopted by police departments in collaboration with transgender leaders in their communities, in order to promote stronger and more fair policies when it comes to police interactions with transgender people.