PIERRE, S.D. — A transgender prisoner at the South Dakota State Penitentiary has filed a civil lawsuit in federal court against South Dakota Department of Corrections officials for violating the prisoner's rights to freedom of expression, to be free of cruel and unusual punishment and to due process and equal protection of the laws.

LANSING – All 2,044 women held at Michigan’s only women’s prison were called into individual meetings with officials Thursday and asked to state whether they are straight, gay, bisexual or transgender, officials confirmed Friday.