The union representing roughly 6,000 state prison guards in New Jersey has filed a lawsuit seeking to block the transfer of a transgender female inmate to the state's only prison for women.

The Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 105 argues in a complaint filed Tuesday that female corrections officers shouldn't have to strip search a transgender female inmate who has male genitalia.

The attorney representing the corrections officers described the issue as "complex."

“Ordering female corrections officers to strip search a transgender inmate with male genitalia completely violates... the law," said attorney Frank M. Crivelli. "Because strip searches are to be performed by females upon female inmates, and male corrections officers upon male inmates, unless there are exigent circumstances."

The lawsuit stems from the case of an inmate identified in court papers by the pseudonym "Sonia Doe."

The New Jersey Department of Corrections agreed last month to the transfer after a lawsuit filed on her behalf by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.

Doe's lawsuit claimed that during the 17 months she spent housed in prison facilities for men, she was physically assaulted by guards and sexually harassed by guards and inmates.

“Sonia Doe has been subjected to unconscionable conditions in men’s prisons. By committing to transfer her, the (Department of Corrections) has begun to address these harms,” Jeanne LoCicero, ACLU-NJ legal director, said in a statement after the state agreed to the transfer last month.

Reached by phone Wednesday, LoCicero declined to comment on the claims in the corrections officers' lawsuit. But she said the ACLU is asking a judge to allow Doe and the ACLU to participate in the corrections officers' lawsuit.

Doe's lawsuit asked a judge to order the Department of Corrections to treat her the same as other female inmates, provide her with female undergarments, use only female pronouns when speaking to or about her, and only allow female corrections officers to strip search her.

A judge didn't rule on those points before the ACLU announced that the Department of Corrections had agreed to move her to the prison for women. A spokesperson for the department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Crivelli said: “Certainly we respect the rights of these individuals, but as I stated, let's be sure that we have the proper policies and tools in place to protect everyone involved."

Andrew Ford: @AndrewFordNews; 732-643-4281; aford3@gannettnj.com