Want the latest Prison Flow Project Blog post delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for our monthly newsletter! Plus, highlights of what we're working on, get info on upcoming events, and more! theprisonflowproject.com
April blog post: Mackenzie Wood, PhD, and Douglas Routh, PhD, summarize their ground-breaking research into menstruation in U.S. prisons, highlighting the need for better policies. theprisonflowproject.com/2026/04/15/b...
#transrights forever! We support ALL people who menstruate, including women, men, nonbinary and genderqueer individuals, and intersex individuals.
New York prisons are claiming menstrual products are 'contraband' to deny visitation. Learn more about a new bill from @salazarsenate.bsky.social meant to address this injustice: nysfocus.com/2026/03/19/p...
Current rules around access to menstrual products in prison also make little to no accommodations for disabled people who menstruate.
This month's blog focuses on one woman's experience of a period in prison: how it causes so much shame and struggle and is used to harm vulnerable people. Thank you to Morgan Godvin for sharing her truth!
Thank you to Galaxy Gives for recognizing Kwaneta with this fellowship and giving her the opportunity to expand her vital work for incarcerated women. With gratitude, Kwaneta Harris & team
We’re excited to share that Kwaneta has been named a 2026 Galaxy Gives Leader Fellow! She’ll be joining a cohort of incredible systems-impacted leaders and changemakers. From Kwaneta and everyone on her team, thank you!
The Prison Flow Project blog is now LIVE! Read more about why founder Miriam Vishniac went into this work and what she found in her doctoral research: theprisonflowproject.com/2026/02/15/w...
The US GAO has quietly released its report on incarcerated menstruation. This report shows that the BOP is failing to adhere to its own guidelines. When they recommended ICE clarify requirements for providing these items, they refused. www.gao.gov/products/gao...
So excited to see that my interview with M Talk by the M Scale is up! Check out S01 E05 to learn more about the struggle to menstruate while confined.
themscale.com/period-podca...
More coverage discussing how common disciplinary policies and a lack of enforcement harms incarcerated menstruators!
Submission for our blog are now OPEN! Have you experienced menstruation or menopause in detention? Have you led a campaign to change laws? Have you done research, or want to summarize research? WE WANT TO KNOW! theprisonflowproject.com/blog-submiss...
Incarcerated women and trans people in the U.S. are punished for their periods. They describe:
🟣 making their own tampons out of unsanitary items
🟣 facing penalties for having more tampons or pads than allowed
🟣 being humiliated by prison staff — yes, even women
My latest for @19thnews.org:
On this International People with Disabilities Day, we think of the many disabled menstruators in prison. Disability rights in prison are known to be a huge issue, making their access to menstrual products questionable. www.prisonpolicy.org/research/dis...
Support this necessary work!! We cannot have conversations around prisons without the people directly impacted whose voices too often get overlooked.
New brief in collaboration with the Cross-Center Collaboration on the Health of Justice-Involved Women and Children (JIWC) at @umn-mch.bsky.social! State Laws on Access to Menstrual Products for People who are Pregnant while Incarcerated - mch.umn.edu/wp-content/u...
A lack of toilet paper was a consistent issue for the people I talked with in my research, almost as much of an issue as lack of access to menstrual products. Women generally only get as much as men. This preferential treatment makes it clear that is a CHOICE. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
It is so exciting to see news media discussing the injustices faced by incarcerated menstruators! davisvanguard.org/2025/11/pris...
Prison disciplinary policies often target menstruators and make it even harder for them to access menstrual products. My analysis with @prisonpolicy.org dug into this widespread issue.
In DC for the American Society of Criminology annual meeting! Look for me around or come find me at poster session II, Thursday evening, 7:30-8:30!
On my way to the annual @amersoccriminology.bsky.social meeting in DC! Looking forward to seeing old friends and presenting important research! Find me at poster session II!
The dehumanization of incarcerated people is what makes menstrual discrimination in prison possible. Menstrual equity requires human compassion.
The people in prison and who have experienced prison are the Experts. You do not get to claim to know anything if you ignore their voices.
Imprisoning people far from their families and then charging those people an insane amount to stay in contact when we know it leads to better outcomes post-release is cruel and ensures people keep getting imprisoned.
I was supposed to present at the Conference on Poverty and Basic Needs hosted by the @diapernetwork.bsky.social and @periodsupplies.bsky.social last week, but had an unfortunately-times family emergency. So instead, I have posted my materials online! theprisonflowproject.com/2025-u-s-con...
A reminder that people in prison are still deserving of human compassion, as all humans are.
Thank you to everyone who made our inaugural #PeriodActionDay webinar a success! We posted the recording on the event page for anyone who couldn’t make it. #periodequity #prison #periodpoverty #criminology #womensrights #genderequity
HAVE YOU MADE #PeriodActionDay PLANS YET?! We’ve got you covered! #PAD25 #menstrualequity #menstrualjustice #prisons #womensrights #periodpoverty #massincarceration #criminaljustice #criminology #feminism #sociology #genderequity #socialpolicy #socialpolicy #publichealth
Over 80 advocacy orgs have voiced their opposition to the $360 million proposal to build a new women's prison in MA. Instead of new construction, we need investment in community-based alternatives that have proven track records of improving public safety. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/09/12/m...