bryan kim

Trans-identified male Inmate bryan Kim Sparks Legal Battle Over Transfer to Men’s Prison

By Sharnellia Bennett-Smith

 Monroe, WA - Bryan Kim, a trans-identified man serving a life sentence for aggravated first-degree murder in Washington state, has become the center of a heated legal and human rights dispute following his transfer from a women’s to a men’s correctional facility. Bryan Kim was convicted at the age of 19 of first-degree murder and has been serving a life sentence since 2006 when he was originally placed in a men's prison. During his incarceration, he conveniently began his gender transition and, after extensive legal efforts, was transferred to the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) in 2021.                                                                                                                         In March 2024, Bryan Kim was found to be having sex in prison and transferred to the Monroe Correctional Complex, a men’s prison, citing unspecified safety concerns. This marked the first time a trans-identified man in Washington had been moved from a women’s facility to a men’s facility.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Washington has taken up Kim’s case, filing a Personal Restraint Petition on December 17, 2024. The petition argues that housing Kim in a men’s prison violates his constitutional rights, exposing him to a heightened risk of violence, sexual assault, and harassment. The lawsuit fails to mention that Kim was previously housed in a male facility before him being moved to WCCW. The ACLU also ridiculously pointed out that Kim’s cellmate, a woman who was equally involved in the infraction, was not subjected to similar punitive measures or transfer.

Since his transfer, Kim has chosen to remain in solitary confinement to reduce potential harm. The DOC has not provided detailed reasoning for the transfer but maintains that decisions regarding inmate placement are made with safety and security in mind.