A Supreme Court battle is being waged over a prisoner’s bid to change jails after changing gender. 

The Western Australian government is opposed to the move but the violent offender serving a lengthy sentence believes their safety is at risk. 

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The prisoner was locked up for life as a man but is now a woman and wants to serve the rest of her time behind bars in a women’s jail.

Her identity has been suppressed by the court, and she is known only as “SD”.

She began transitioning after being locked up, undergoing hormone therapy and extensive psychological treatment while behind bars.

The State Administrative Tribunal told the Department of Justice to move her to a women’s prison.

The government is oppsosed to the move and had a win in the Supreme Court on Friday, with the prisoner to remain in the men’s jail for now. 

It is not the first case of its kind dealt with in WA.

Earlier in 2026, a biological man accused of domestic violence against a female partner was sent to Bandyup Women’s Prison.

That person had male genitals, but produced a birth certificate stating they were female.

SD’s case will be back before the Supreme Court in August.