Women incarcerated at Shakopee prison mistakenly told to ration menstrual products

Inmates at Shakopee Correctional Facility were wrongly instructed to ration menstrual products due to an unauthorized memo that sparked concern among the incarcerated population. Shannon Loehrke, spokesperson for the Minnesota Department of Corrections, stated that the facility has ample supplies and that the memo was removed shortly after it was posted. The staffer responsible for the memo acted on their own initiative after observing misuse of period products. Inmate Elizabeth Hawes confirmed that there is no shortage of hygiene supplies and criticized the memo for creating unnecessary panic. Advocacy groups highlighted the emotional impact such misinformation can have on inmates, who lack access to the internet for clarification.

Loehrke explained that some inmates used menstrual products inappropriately, prompting the staff's warning. The incident raises questions about communication protocols within correctional facilities and the rights of inmates regarding hygiene products. Ensuring accurate information is critical to avoid distress among those incarcerated.