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Women incarcerated at the Shakopee Correctional Facility are dealing with basic health products rationing, according to the Incarcerated Workers Organization Committee. Tampons and pads are among the items being rationed.
Inmates said they were informed of the shortages two weeks ago through a memo posted inside the Anthony Unit at the prison.
Dontania Petrie, advocate and former inmate at the facility, said the Shakopee prison is violating a basic human right.
"We haven't been given any reason other than that they're just going to run out, and I just don't understand how they're going to run out when that's something that's supposed to be provided, period,” Petrie said.
The Department of Corrections disputes this, saying the items are not being rationed.
“This week, a staff person at MCF-Shakopee posted a note to remind the incarcerated population that feminine hygiene products should be used only as intended,” the DOC said in a statement. “Recently, incarcerated people have been using these items on the bottoms of chairs, as door stops, and as dusters. The note requested that the population be more mindful of reducing waste. Basic health products are not being rationed, and DOC continues to provide products as defined by policy and statute.”
People work while incarcerated, but Petrie said they often don’t make enough to buy what they need. She said products from the canteen— a store inside the facility — carry an elevated price tag compared to the same product outside the facility.
“The population at the prison is mostly, you know, not a lot of older women. I’m pretty sure almost everybody has a cycle every 28 days,” Petrie said.
That was the most concerning for people and then soap, especially for indigent people who don’t have the option to buy soap … they don’t have the finances.”
According to Minnesota statutes, prison-facilities are required to provide personal hygiene products to people who are incarcerated, and for women, “at a minimum sanitary napkins and tampons.”
Petrie said there wasn’t a shortage on supplies while she was at the prison, but that officials “complained [the inmates] used too [many pads].”
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