Associated Press - August 6, 2009 5:34 PM ET

BOISE, Idaho (AP) - The Idaho Department of Correction has reached settlements in lawsuits with two transgender inmates who castrated themselves after they were denied feminizing hormone therapy.

The department has also changed its policy for identifying and treating transgender inmates, limiting the time inmates must wait for treatment, specifying how they may be diagnosed and clarifying when they qualify for hormone therapy.

Josephime Von Isaak sued the state in 2006 and Jenniffer Ann Spencer sued the following year. Both inmates, who were born with male anatomy but consider themselves female, contended they were subjected to cruel and unusual punishment because they were denied treatment for gender identity disorder.

Settlement documents in both cases were filed in U.S. District Court this week.

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