Massachusetts women’s prison a haven for sexual predators, report says

Women incarcerated at the only female prison in Massachusetts say state policies have placed them in danger by housing male offenders who identify as transgender in the same facility, a new report concludes.

A column published in The Hill described MCI-Framingham as “a haven for sexual predators who pretend to be transgender,” citing accounts from female inmates who said they were subjected to harassment, intimidation and sexual violence. The medium-security prison west of Boston operates under policies shaped by the state’s 2018 criminal justice reform law. 

The column, written by mental health professional and journalist Forest Romm, detailed allegations involving male inmates with histories of violent sexual offenses against women and children. State officials transferred those inmates into the women’s facility after they self-identified as female, the report said. In several cases, the inmates discontinued hormone treatments after the transfer while retaining male genitalia.

Female prisoners interviewed for the column said they faced retaliation after reporting abuse. One woman alleged she was raped in November and then placed in restrictive housing.

“It feels like I’m being punished for speaking up,” the inmate said. “They are treating me as if I should have kept my mouth shut – as if it’s my fault, or as though I should have defended myself.” 

Amie Ichikawa, executive director and founding member of Woman II Woman, praised Romm for publishing the allegations despite political sensitivity around transgender housing policies.

“I appreciate all journalists who are willing to put their necks on the chopping block to expose this nationwide crime against women,” Ichikawa told the Christian Post. 

Ichikawa said the situation reflects failures within federal policy, particularly the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003. Regulatory changes adopted in 2012 elevated LGBT-identified inmates into what she described as a protected class, shifting institutional priorities away from common-sense safety. 

She said the rule change had “the possibly unintended outcome of creating an untouchable privilege class that wields power over staff and the female population with rights and benefits no one in the carceral system has ever had.” 

The allegations come as Massachusetts officials advance a $360 million plan to renovate MCI-Framingham. 

Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll announced a $20.5 million initial investment last year, framing it as an effort to promote rehabilitation and public safety. 

As of May 2025, the prison housed 218 women, many with significant mental health problems. Critics argue physical upgrades mean little if the state fails to protect women already under its care.