At Least 3 Biological Males Housed in Framingham Women’s Prison as Rape Reports Emerge

Mass YouTuber Mike Urban has worked hard to surface this story.

Massachusetts’ only women’s prison, MCI–Framingham, is facing intense scrutiny following disturbing allegations that female inmates were sexually assaulted by male prisoners who identify as transgender, and then punished for speaking out.

According to reporting and testimony cited by researchers and former inmates, women incarcerated at Framingham allege they were raped, harassed, and intimidated by transgender inmates housed in the same facility. One woman claims that after reporting a rape, she was placed in restrictive housing and effectively silenced.

Woman says she was locked away after reporting rape

A female prisoner who requested anonymity told reporters she was raped in November by a male inmate who identifies as transgender. The alleged attacker has not been publicly named.

Instead of being protected, the woman claims she was placed in restrictive housing, where she is confined to a locked cell and allowed out only once per day to shower.

“It feels like I’m being punished for speaking up,” she said. “They are treating me as if I should have kept my mouth shut, as if it’s my fault, or as though I should have defended myself.”

The woman says she fears further retaliation for speaking publicly about what happened.

Researcher says women describe prison as unsafe

Psychology researcher Forest Romm, who has studied the impact of gender identity policies in custodial settings, says the accounts from Framingham are consistent with what incarcerated women have told him directly.

Female inmates he interviewed described the prison as “a haven for sexual predators who pretend to be transgender,” according to Romm, who published an op-ed outlining his findings and has identified himself as the lead investigator on the story.

Romm says many women inside the facility are afraid to speak publicly because of fear of retaliation from other inmates or punishment from prison administrators.

Policy allows male offenders into women’s prison

In July, Charlese Horton, a biological male, was transferred into the women’s prison. Horton was previously convicted of abducting and raping a 14-year-old girl multiple times at gunpoint.

Under Massachusetts’ 2018 Criminal Justice Reform law, incarcerated individuals can be housed based on gender identity rather than biological sex. The policy allows biologically male offenders, including those convicted of violent crimes, to be placed in the state’s women’s prison if they identify as female.

Critics argue the law allows access to women’s housing units with minimal barriers, even for inmates convicted of sex offenses, child rape, domestic violence, or murder.

Supporters of the policy say it is intended to protect transgender inmates from violence in men’s prisons. Opponents say it has created serious safety risks for female inmates who cannot opt out or request transfer to another women’s facility.

High-profile violent offenders housed at Framingham

According to court records and published reports, several biological male inmates with violent criminal histories are currently housed at Framingham.

One is Kenneth Hunt, who now goes by Katheena. Hunt is serving a life sentence for the sexual assault and murder of two women, including a cousin. Court records state one victim was stabbed more than 40 times and sexually assaulted with a broom.

Another inmate, Charlese Horton, formerly known as Charles, is a level three sex offender convicted of kidnapping and repeatedly raping a 14-year-old at gunpoint. Horton was transferred to Framingham in July after identifying as transgender.

A third inmate, Wayne Raymond, who goes by Veronica, is serving a life sentence for raping multiple children. Raymond was denied parole six times before being deemed compatible with placement at the women’s prison.

Reports say these inmates are among several biological male prisoners housed at Framingham. Some are alleged to have stopped hormone treatment after arrival.

Allegations extend beyond assaults

Researcher Forest Romm has received letters from women inside MCI Framingham. These are anonymous due to the retaliation the female inmates fear.

In addition to rape allegations, women incarcerated at Framingham report being forced to share communal spaces, including showers, with male-bodied inmates.

According to reporting, prison officials attempted to designate separate shower times for transgender inmates while women remained locked in their cells. In practice, inmates allegedly ignored the schedule and used communal showers during general population hours.

Female correctional officers are also reportedly required to conduct strip searches on transgender inmates who request searches from staff matching their gender identity.

To date, no biological males have been removed from Framingham following the allegations, according to published reports.

A growing public safety and accountability crisis

Advocates for incarcerated women say the situation at Framingham raises urgent questions about whether Massachusetts has failed to balance inclusion with safety.

They are calling for independent investigations, public disclosure of assault complaints, and immediate review of prison housing policies.

For women inside Framingham, the message they say they have received is chilling: speaking out comes with consequences.

“This is not about politics,” one inmate wrote in an anonymous letter. “This is about our safety, our dignity, and our right to be treated like human beings.”

This story is ongoing.