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Why Are There Condoms In Women's Prisons? | Amie Ichikawa #454 | The Way I Heard It

2025-10-19 Entertainment
102.2k
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Mike Rowe
Mike Rowe
1.3m subscribers

Former Inmate Details Safety Crisis After California Mandates Housing Men with Women in Prison

Understand the shocking realities women face when housed with biological males in prison under California’s controversial SB 132 law. Learn how these policy changes affect inmate safety, rights, and access to basic necessities.

Short Summary

  • Policy Impact: California's SB 132 legally mandates housing biological men, including convicted sex offenders, in facilities designated for women.
  • Institutional Inequity: Incarcerated women face loss of privacy, denial of basic medical needs afforded to transferred men, and heightened danger.
  • Advocacy Response: An organization, Women to Woman, mobilized to counter the policy after realizing the systemic fallout upon release.
  • Political Friction: Advocates report that efforts to amend the law, such as prohibiting sex offender transfers, are actively blocked by certain legislators like Senator Scott Weiner.

This conversation features Amie Ichikawa, who served five years in a California women’s prison after the state expanded its definition of "women" to include biological males. She details the daily erosion of safety, dignity, and fairness experienced by the female prison population. The discussion reveals how this policy has severe, quantifiable consequences, forcing survivors of trauma to live alongside individuals convicted of sex offenses.

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Description

Amie Ichikawa broke the law, got caught, and wound up serving five years in a women’s prison. Unfortunately for her, the women’s prison she entered is in California, and had recently expanded their definition of “women” to include men. And so, Amie served her time with men who claimed to be women. Male felons who were still physically intact, a third of which had been convicted of sexual assault. The consequences that followed should come as no surprise, but still, Amie's story is shocking to hear, and now that she’s a free woman, she’s sharing her experience behind bars with anyone who will listen. I hope that audience will include you. In our conversation, she talks candidly about the elected officials who made this possible - the individuals in California who still think it’s a good idea to incarcerate men and women in the same facility, including Governor Newsom, who signed Senate Bill 132 (SB 132), also known as the "Transgender Respect, Agency, and Dignity Act", in 2020. Based on the reaction to my previous interview with Payton McNabb, the teenage volleyball player who was seriously injured by a male competitor, I know that some people will not appreciate this conversation and wonder why I keep coming back to this issue. ("Stay in your lane, Mike!”) Others will chime in with nostalgic memories of a time when I wasn't so "conservative." With respect, I think that's utter nonsense. There is nothing inherently conservative or liberal about questioning the wisdom of allowing fully intact men convicted of violent crime, to serve their prison sentence in the company of convicted women. Zero. Personally, I think most Americans - including a lot liberals and democrats - are fundamentally opposed to SB 132, and quietly embarrassed by its existence. Perhaps I'll hear from a few of them, as well. Regardless, my entire conversation with Amie is below. So too, is an editorial she wrote last year, which posed a fair and honest question in the headline - "Why Are There Condoms in Women’s Prisons?” The answer to that question is here, and also worth your time. https://bit.ly/43v00yv #podcast #women #prison A special thanks to Good Ranchers. You can get an additional $40 off with my code MIKE and free meat for life when you subscribe. Use code MIKE at: https://go.goodranchers.com/mike If you like me, and even if you don't, subscribe to my channels and follow me. Much obliged. https://www.youtube.com/@therealmikerowe https://www.youtube.com/@therealmikeroweshorts https://www.youtube.com/@PYSKshow http://instagram.com/mikerowe http://facebook.com/TheRealMikeRowe https://twitter.com/mikeroweworks

Top Comments (10)

@SeaBug72 2025-10-20

I’m a nurse at a California Prison. I’ve been working at a prison for 19 years. I retire next year. I would love to interview with you at that time. I absolutely agree with this lady in that prison are ground zero for experimentation for social experimentation. I now work with MediCal to parole inmates into the community. It is absolutely shocking. A prison in Northern California was just closed down because the women were getting raped by the prison guards. I believe the warden was involved. Sexual misconduct is no longer disciplinary. It goes on and on. Brave woman. I fully support her and happy someone is speaking out. ‘Rehabilitation’ was added to the name in order to siphon money from taxpayers and the federal government.

379 16 replies
@TwistedForHire 2025-10-21

Anyone else sitting watching this, thinking over and over... "WTF???"

315 18 replies
@lisaholtzclaw4947 2025-10-19

I worked there for years. She's telling the truth. Something must be done about this problem.

193 12 replies
@lisaholtzclaw4947 2025-10-19

This lady went through this traumatic experience so she could shine a bright light on this situation. I pray things will change with the knowledge and truth that is being pointed out.

189 10 replies
@survivorstorage 2025-10-23

Putting a biological man in a woman's prison is cruel and unusual punishment for the women. This needs to go to the supreme court fast.

181 11 replies
@NinjaTrainedKittens 2025-10-21

This qualifies as "cruel and unusual punishment" and violates the 8th amendment.

126 3 replies
@Suzanne291 2025-10-20

I can feel her authenticity, fear, and pain. Her bravery is needed right now. Thank you for fighting for these women!

81
@davidfreyta3857 2025-10-22

I'm the guy who doesn't feel bad for anybody doing time. There are consequences for every choice you make in life. But putting male prisoners in female prisons is insane. It truly is cruel and unusual punishment and anyone who thinks this right has no business in public office.

59 2 replies
@Morning.Coffee 2025-10-20

"Priortizing Predators" is the agenda of only the wicked. 😠 God bless this lady & all who support her cause!! 💪🏆

57 1 replies
@bonnieshaffer9983 2025-10-20

Thank you, Mike, for giving these women time to tell their stories. The truth needs to be told.

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