Sangamon Sun

The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) has confirmed that 85 transgender inmates are currently housed at Logan Correctional Center, the state’s only women’s prison—12 of which are biological males. 

The data was released in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from the Sangamon Sun amid debate over prison policy that allows for the housing of biological male inmates in female facilities. 

According to IDOC's latest count, the transgender population at Logan includes 56 biological females identifying as male, 17 inmates identifying as non-binary and 12 biological males identifying as female. 

Janiah Monroe, formerly known as Andre Patterson, was accused of raping multiple female inmates at Logan Correctional Center. | Illinois Department of Corrections

The figures align closely with a tip submitted earlier this year through the Illinois DOGE tip line.

Critics argue that IDOC’s policy—which allows inmates to be housed according to gender identity rather than biological sex—has placed vulnerable women at risk, especially when individuals with violent or sexual crime convictions are involved.

In the same FOIA response, Maggie Meikle, the department’s Freedom of Information Officer, revealed that Logan Correctional Center has recorded 126 reports of sexual violence since 2020. 

“There were approximately 126 allegations of sexual assault reported during the timeframe of your request,” Meikle said in response to Sangamon Sun's FOIA request. 

However, she added that the details of those reports would remain undisclosed. 

“The details of those allegations are denied pursuant to pursuant to 5 ILCS 140/7(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act which exempts the release of ‘Information specifically prohibited from disclosure by Federal or State law or rules and regulations implementing Federal or State law,’” Meikle wrote. 

She continued: "28 CFR 115.61(b) of the Code of Federal Regulations provides as follows: 'Apart from reporting to designated supervisors or officials, staff shall not reveal any information related to a sexual abuse report to anyone other than to the extent necessary, as specified in agency policy, to make treatment, investigation, and other security and management decisions.'"

The IDOC also turned down a portion to the FOIA request that sought information on concerns raised by female inmates about being housed alongside biological males. 

IDOC’s own internal policies acknowledge that “Gender Dysphoria” is a mental illness characterized by a “strong and persistent desire to be a member of the opposite or alternative gender.” 

However, the IDOC regularly allows biological men with gender dysphoria to be housed at the only all-female state correctional facility. 

The IODC's FOIA response comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding the facility’s housing policies, particularly in light of past incidents involving Janiah Monroe, a transgender inmate born Andre Patterson. 

Monroe, a biological male with functioning genitalia, was transferred from a male prison and later accused of raping multiple female inmates at Logan. Efforts to return Monroe to a male facility were reportedly blocked by Governor JB Pritzker’s administration and later upheld by a federal court.

Among those speaking out is former inmate Lindsay Anderson, who served time at Logan from 2020 to 2025 and witnessed significant changes at the facility, including the introduction of biological males identifying as female, such as Monroe.

Anderson directly addressed the sexual assault allegations, including a female inmate’s accusation of rape against Monroe.

“She reported it, and [jail administrators] said the case was unfounded,” Anderson previously told the Sangamon Sun. “I feel like [Monroe] is very protected. Why can’t they be transferred? That was a huge thing to us.”

Anderson described a pervasive atmosphere of fear among female inmates, who were forced to share living quarters, showers and bathrooms with biologically male individuals. 

She said allowing biological males to be housed alongside females “diminishes and demeans the fact of what womanhood is.” 

“These men that are coming in don't have petty cases,” Anderson said. “They have some severe cases that are coming in that are scary for a lot of these women.” 

Anderson said that while sexual violence by biological males at the prison was a constant concern, she also emphasized the physical disparities between inmates as a serious risk, particularly in situations that could escalate into violence.

“Even if they get the bottom surgery done, they still are stronger than us,” she said. “And if a physical fight were to break out, it could do serious harm. And so, I was always afraid of my safety.” 

She recalled that efforts by inmates to raise concerns about safety were ignored or punished. 

“We tried to contact organizations to figure out our rights, or a woman’s right to safety and they said that we didn't have any rights really—that the trans population had more rights than we did,” Anderson said. “So, a lot of women went on hunger strikes to protest."

Logan Correctional Center, opened in 1978 and converted to an all-female facility in 2000, faced additional strain after a 2013 consolidation of women’s prisons. Since then, it has had several different wardens. 

A 2020 report from the John Howard Association and a 2016 Department of Justice-funded review both labeled Logan’s conditions as “unsanitary,” “untenable,” and harmful to inmate health and safety.

In 2024 the Illinois legislature approved $900 million to replace Logan Correctional Center, but no firm date for closure or reconstruction has been announced.