Basic Needs

I read an article in the NY Times a few days ago about female inmates who are not provided with sanitary napkins and/or tampons when they need them. These women are often not given the number of sanitary items that they need, they're forced to pay for these items, or they're reduced to bartering for them for prison officers and other inmates. It's amazing to me that women in this country are denied these items. It's also embarrassing that our prison system operates in this way and treats women so poorly. I was downright angered when I read the story in the Times about this. Any prison system that denies women tampons and pads that they need on a monthly basis (and sometimes more than a monthly basis) should be ashamed of itself for allowing this poor treatment to continue. I know prison isn't supposed to be a country club, but it is supposed to provide basic needs for prisoners and pads and tampons are basic needs for many women. We don't live in a third-world country. It's not like these prisons don't have the funds to provide basic needs to female inmates, because I know they do. Maybe the Times story will provide the exposure needed for many of these prisons to change their ways. One can certainly hope.