A transgender-identifying convict in California, known for a history of violent crimes, has been moved from a women’s correctional facility back to a men’s prison following rape charges. Tremaine “Tremayne” Deon Carroll, 51, faces two charges of forcible rape and one of dissuading a witness from testifying, according to a criminal complaint reported by Reduxx [1] and Just The News [2].
Carroll, a biological male who identifies as a woman, allegedly attacked a biological female, referred to as Jane Doe, in the shower at the Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) on January 30. Another unidentified victim is also mentioned in the complaint. Carroll has since been transferred to Kern Valley State Prison, a male-only facility in Delano.
Women’s rights activists argue that Carroll’s case highlights the dangers posed by California’s SB 132 law, which allows transgender prisoners to be housed according to their gender identity. Lauren Bone, legal director of the Women’s Liberation Front (WoLF), criticized the law, saying it removes safeguards that previously protected women in prisons. WoLF, a radical feminist organization, opposes policies allowing biological males in women-only spaces and represents four female inmates in a lawsuit against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to have SB 132 declared unconstitutional.
Bone stated, “[SB 132] took away the ability to make individualized case assessments. It made it illegal to discriminate based on anatomy and other factors. Now, there are 50 men housed there, and hundreds more on a waitlist. Nearly all of them have penises.”
Carroll is one of several biological males represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Transgender Law Center, and Lambda Legal, who intervened in WoLF’s lawsuit. In sworn testimony, Carroll claimed not to be a threat despite his criminal past. However, he now stands accused of rape less than a year later.
Carroll’s extensive criminal history began in 1988 with charges of grand theft and possession of a firearm by a minor. By 1990, he faced charges of kidnapping, robbery, and sexual assault. Despite some counts being dismissed, Carroll pleaded guilty to two counts of kidnapping and was sentenced to over ten years in prison. His third strike came in 1998, leading to a 25-to-life sentence for being the getaway driver in a robbery.
In prison, Carroll committed numerous violations and filed various complaints against CDCR employees. It wasn’t until SB 132 passed in 2021 that he began identifying as a trans woman, which allowed him to be transferred to CCWF.
Amie Ichikawa, founder of Women II Women and a former inmate, has closely followed Carroll’s case. She expressed frustration with SB 132, noting that it has no guardrails to protect women from male convicts. Ichikawa emphasized that the law allows biological males to transfer to women’s prisons without considering their criminal history or physical attributes.
SB 132, authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener, aims to protect transgender prisoners by housing them based on their gender identity. However, the law has faced opposition from Republicans and some Democrats who argue it endangers women in prison.
WoLF continues to fight against SB 132, asserting that it violates the Eighth Amendment by placing incarcerated women at higher risk. U.S. District Judge Jennifer Thurston dismissed their initial lawsuit but allowed them to file an amended complaint.
Bone insists that California must prioritize the safety of all incarcerated individuals, not just transgender prisoners. “They can’t transfer the risk to women and use them to shield males from other male violence. Women shouldn’t be used for the validation of male identities,” she said.
Carroll’s next court hearing is scheduled for July 1, and women’s rights organizations like WoLF and Women II Women remain vigilant in their advocacy.