Menstrual Equity in the Criminal Legal System

Menstrual equity, that is, access to menstrual products and safe menstruating environments, is a basic human right not available to many vulnerable populations. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with a convenience sample of women involved in the criminal legal system to document experiences with access to hygiene and menstrual products while incarcerated. Of the 156 respondents, 62.6% had to trade or barter to receive even basic hygiene products such as soap or shampoo; food and personal favors were used as the common currency. More than half (53.8%) received less than five menstrual products at intake/initial processing; 29.5% had to trade or barter menstrual hygiene products. Almost one-quarter (23.1%) suffered negative health consequences from prolonged use of products because of limited supply. Findings document the lack of menstrual equity among women involved in the criminal legal system. Assuring the human right of menstrual equity in this population requires changes at the legal, the policy, the institutional, and the individual level.