The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) has filed a federal lawsuit against the Washington State Department of Corrections (WDOC), alleging that a controversial housing policy allowing men who identify as women to be incarcerated in female prisons led directly to violence, sexual abuse, and ongoing fear.
The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington, names the Washington Department of Corrections and Secretary Tim Lang as defendants. It was brought on behalf of Fair for All, Inc. and 28-year-old inmate Faith Booher-Smith, who claims she was brutally attacked by a male inmate housed in the women’s facility under the state’s policy.
Violent Assault at Women’s Prison
According to the complaint, Booher-Smith was attacked on August 7, 2025, at the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) by Christopher Williams, a 6-foot-4 male inmate transferred to the facility after identifying as a woman.
The lawsuit alleges that Williams approached Booher-Smith from behind, struck her in the face, grabbed her hair, threw her to the ground, and repeatedly kicked her. She suffered visible injuries, including facial bruising, swelling, and a laceration inside her mouth.
The complaint states that the only officer present froze during the attack and was unable to intervene.
Booher-Smith now reportedly suffers from lasting trauma, anxiety, and fear following the assault.
Alleged Pattern of Abuse by Suspect
The lawsuit paints a broader picture of Christopher Williams as a repeat offender against female inmates, alleging that Booher-Smith was not his first victim.
Another inmate, Mozzy Clark, previously filed lawsuits claiming Williams sexually assaulted her over a period of months while they were forced to share a cell. According to the complaint, Williams allegedly subjected Clark to ongoing abuse, including groping her while she slept, masturbating in front of her, and repeatedly threatening her with rape.
Clark’s lawsuit further alleged that prison staff ignored her complaints and even discouraged her from reporting the abuse, warning her about possible retaliation.
Williams is also a convicted child sex offender with a documented history of violent behavior prior to being transferred into the women’s prison. Despite this record, officials approved his transfer.
Warnings Ignored Before Attack
According to the lawsuit, prison officials had prior warning that Williams posed a threat to female inmates.
A superintendent at a men’s facility reportedly advised against transferring Williams due to his “serious infraction history” and past violence against a female victim, but that recommendation was ultimately ignored.
The complaint also points to other cases, including Nathan Goninan, a male inmate convicted of murdering a teenage girl, who allegedly assaulted a female inmate after being housed at WCCW. According to the filing, Goninan had a known history of aggressive and threatening behavior before the incident and was later described by officials as an “unmitigated threat” to others in custody, yet he had still been placed in the women’s facility.
Policy at the Center of Lawsuit
At the center of the case is WDOC’s “Transgender Inmate Policy,” which allows inmates to request transfer to facilities based on gender identity.
The lawsuit alleges the policy permits male inmates to be housed alongside female inmates in nearly all aspects of daily life, including sharing cells, bathrooms, showers, and other intimate living spaces. According to the complaint, these decisions are based largely on self-identification rather than biological sex.
The plaintiffs argue that this has effectively eliminated single-sex protections for women in Washington’s prison system.
Broader Allegations of Harm
The complaint describes what it characterizes as a broader pattern of harm affecting multiple inmates inside WCCW.
In one case, an elderly, wheelchair-bound female inmate reportedly suffered injuries after a male inmate assaulted her while demanding medication, twisting her arm and wrist when she refused. In another instance, a female inmate with a history of sexual trauma and PTSD was allegedly stalked and threatened by a male inmate throughout the facility, worsening her psychological condition.
The lawsuit also alleges that female inmates are routinely forced into close and unavoidable contact with male inmates during everyday activities such as meals, movement through the facility, and shared living conditions, contributing to what it describes as an atmosphere of constant fear.
Constitutional Claims
AFPI argues that the policy violates:
- The Eighth Amendment, prohibiting cruel and unusual punishment
- The Fourteenth Amendment, guaranteeing equal protection
The lawsuit contends that Washington knowingly exposed female inmates to “foreseeable and preventable harm” while prioritizing accommodations for male inmates identifying as women.
Plaintiffs Demand Policy Change
The plaintiffs are seeking:
- An injunction blocking the housing of male inmates in the women’s prison
- Financial damages for Booher-Smith
- A ruling declaring the policy unconstitutional
AFPI Chief Legal Officer Leigh Ann O’Neill said the case reflects a failure of state responsibility.
“This case is about state power and state responsibility,” O’Neill said. “Washington is making incarcerated women in its custody victims of a bad experiment.”
