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Downtown's Metropolitan Detention Center will have a separate area for transgender arrestees as of the end of the month, according to City News Service. The area will be in the women's jail, and will serve as a holding area for both transgender men and women.
The decision was announced by the LAPD at a meeting last night with transgender activists and community members. Karina Samala, director of the Transgender Working Group, told the LA Times that the group has "pushed for" this change.
Transgender women who were born male but identify as female are particularly at risk for violence when housed with other male detainees.
According to the Times, jail administrators believe that L.A. will be the first place to house transgender people separately. While they're being held -- which is usually for about three days, the time it takes between the arrest and their arraignment -- they will be offered men's or women's clothing, and will have access to hormone treatments.