In a recent government meeting, Kelsey Bowler, director of IW Features at the Independent Women's Forum, presented harrowing testimonies from female inmates affected by California's Senate Bill 132. This law, enacted in 2020, permits male inmates to be housed in women's prisons based solely on their declared gender identity, a policy that Bowler argues has led to increased sexual violence against vulnerable women.

Bowler shared three poignant stories from inmates at Central California Women's Prison (CCWF), highlighting the severe consequences of the legislation. One inmate, Alyssa Kamholtz, recounted her traumatic past of abuse and the distress of being placed with a male inmate who bore a striking resemblance to her abusers. Another inmate, Kathleen Quinn, faced retaliation for reporting inappropriate behavior from a male inmate, resulting in the loss of her parole just weeks before her release. Lastly, a woman identified as Jane Doe described being raped by a male inmate shortly after he was transferred to her cell, an incident that has left her with lasting psychological trauma.

Bowler emphasized the urgent need for policies that protect female inmates, arguing that the current framework not only endangers their safety but also undermines their rehabilitation. She pointed out that a significant percentage of women in jail are survivors of sexual violence, making their placement alongside male inmates particularly dangerous.

The testimony concluded with a call to action for lawmakers to reconsider policies that compromise the safety and dignity of incarcerated women. Bowler thanked the committee for opposing the nomination of judicial candidate Sarah Netburn, framing it as a step toward safeguarding the rights of female inmates. She asserted that the issue transcends political divides, underscoring the fundamental human rights of incarcerated women to have access to female-only spaces.