Do you think the status quo of American prisons is good for anyone? I agree that this issue could be handled better, but as a non-American I've been horrified by many more things in the American prison system than this.
Having a vulnerable inmates unit sounds like a great first step towards fixing some of the other abuses you might be thinking of.
Placing female prisoners at risk of physical violence, sexual assault, rape and impregnation by male prisoners is an obvious wrong to undo, but I agree there are many other horrifying aspects of prison conditions that need to be addressed as well.