PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Prisoners will have free access to menstrual products in Maine jails and prisons under a new law in the state.
The law follows up on an announcement by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 2017 that all people in its facilities would be guaranteed free menstrual products. The change didn’t affect people incarcerated in state and county prisons. Supporters of Maine’s law change argued that those facilities should also specify free access to the products.
Improving access to the products is “an issue of human dignity,” said Democratic Rep. Charlotte Warren of Hallowell, who sponsored the change. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed the proposal into law May 23.
“Throughout our legislative process we heard stories of individuals who were given only a limited number of menstrual products or were forced to use the few funds they had to purchase these necessities,” Warren said.
The new law ensures access to products such as sanitary pads and tampons without charge, according to the text of the bill. The bill states that its goal is to provide “comprehensive access” to menstrual products in all jails, county correctional facilities, and state correctional and detention facilities in the state.
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