Campus Sexual Violence and the Cost of Protecting Institutions: Carceral Systems and Trans Student Experience.

This article examines transgender and gender diverse (TGD) university students’ experiences with campus sexual violence prevention and response (SVPR) systems, highlighting how current approaches grounded in carceral logic and federal compliance (notably Title IX) often exclude and harm TGD students. Through focus groups at a large northeastern U.S. university, participants expressed distrust of punitive, binary frameworks that prioritize institutional liability over survivor-centered support, leading to underutilization of available resources. The study situates these findings within abolition feminism and critical trans politics, advocating for transformative justice (TJ) principles that emphasize healing, community accountability, and systemic change rather than punishment. Participants envision SVPR infrastructures that are inclusive, intersectional, and led by TGD communities to better address the complexities of sexual violence and foster safer campus environments.