The Inclusion Project on LinkedIn: Here's a snippet of one of our interviews on Menstrual hygiene with a… (2025)

Providing washable and reusable sanitary pads to women in prison is important for their hygiene and well-being. It ensures that they have access to menstrual products, promoting dignity and reducing the risk of health issues. Reusable pads are cost-effective and environmentally friendly, addressing sustainability concerns within correctional facilities.Donating to these cause of supplying menstrual hygiene products in prison for female inmates is essential for several reasons. It promotes human rights by addressing the basic needs of incarcerated women Ensuring their dignity and well-being. Lack of access to menstrual products can lead to health risks and negatively impact mental health. Supporting this cause also contributes to a more equitable justice system, recognizing and addressing gender-specific needs within prison populations.

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On any given day, 800 million people on the planet are menstruating. Managing a period requires resources like #Period Products, #MenstrualHealth Education, Safe & Private Restrooms, Clean Water & Soap, and Safe Places to Throw Away Waste. Yet at least 500 million people don’t have the adequate resources to manage their period every month. Between 1980 and 2021, the number of women and people who can menstruate in the United States increased by more than 525%, with around 173,000 women incarcerated in the United States in 2024 with limited access to menstrual healthcare.In this 4-Part Workshop about #PeriodPoverty and #MenstrualEquity in U.S. #CorrectionalFacilities, created by Regan Moss (MPH) on behalf of PERIOD., and Gabrielle Perry (MPH) of the Thurman Perry Foundation, learn about;👉Period Poverty and Correctional Facilities👉Managing a period while incarcerated👉Menstrual equity in correctional facilities👉Ways to take actionFurther, there is a dedicated facilitators guide available outlining methodologies to facilitate a workshop based on the Periods in Prison Curriculum.Read the curriculum here; https://lnkd.in/g_zNxhtg

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For #thoughtfulthursday I thought I would look at the subject of releases. Please see the story below about this issue being brought up in Parliament by the All Parliament Group on Homelessness from the BBCThe Homeless Reduction Act put a duty on prisons and hospitals to refer people to the local council if they were releasing someone onto the streets but this hasn't been happening. This mean people aren't getting the help they need at a time when they are arguably their most vulnerable. With prison releases another issue is the fact that prisons are releasing people late on a Friday afternoon. This means by the time they contact their local authority they are shut because its the weekend and it is then 2 or 3 days before they can even start their homeless application (we all know unless you are in priority need just notifying the Council you are homeless doesn't mean you will be housed immediately) This is a big issue and we have been meeting with local judges to try and get people released on a Monday or Tuesday. This means with little money they are back on the sleeps or back sleeping with their old mates with the temptations that brings before they can even start a new life. What would be even better is if the practice of filling in a homeless application could be completed a couple of days before release to ensure people are spending as little time as possible without any home. Hopefully the judges will listen and make a difference.

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📢 Today’s Headlines: UK Prison Crisis: The Impact on Women and the Untold Struggles of Muslim Female PrisonersA recent opinion piece in the Financial Times by Stephen Bush discusses the UK's escalating prison crisis, emphasizing that many incarcerated women are non-violent offenders. The article suggests that releasing these women could help alleviate overcrowding while addressing underlying social issues.It's crucial to remember that Muslim women are significantly affected by these challenges, comprising 6% of the female prison population.🕌 Challenges for Muslim Women in Prison: Muslim women face unique difficulties both inside prison and upon release, including cultural stigma, a lack of culturally sensitive support, and barriers to reintegration. These women often struggle with isolation and limited access to resources that respect their faith and cultural needs.👩👧👦 Impact on Families: Incarceration disrupts family structures, exacerbating existing issues like financial instability and psychological distress. Many women in prison are there for crimes linked to coercive circumstances, such as supporting a partner's addiction, and a large percentage are primary caregivers, leaving thousands of children vulnerable each year. Each year in the UK, approximately 17,000 children are impacted by their mother's imprisonment, with many ultimately entering the country's underfunded care system.🔄 A Call for Community Action: While reform and education are vital, our community must also support initiatives that address crime at its roots and provide essential assistance to Muslim women inside prison. This includes creating employment pathways for formerly incarcerated women to help them achieve economic independence and reintegrate into society successfully.#britishmuslims #muslimwomen#islamicfinance #muslimFor further reading on the challenges faced by Muslim women in prison and the broader context: https://lnkd.in/ebwjwgnz)

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Releasing prisoners early risks a homelessness crisis 🏡In order to help tackle the UK’s prison overcrowding crisis, up to 2,000 prisoners deemed ‘low risk’ are expected to be released next week as part of an early release scheme called SDS40, which will allow many prisoners to leave prison after serving 40% of their sentence (rather than the usual 50%). A second tranche of up to 1,700 prisoners are expected to be released in late October. 📈In his first speech as prisons minister, Lord Timpson stressed that ‘a settled home and a settled job are key to ensuring that people do not reoffend after leaving prison, and that without a fixed address, work is hard to come by.’ As an employment charity for women with convictions, we know only too well that stable, safe accommodation is a prerequisite for successfully attaining and holding down a job and building a new life; equally, homelessness is an almost insurmountable barrier to employment and increases the risk of people reoffending just to survive. In the 12 months prior to June, the number of women released from prison with no fixed accommodation increased by 48% to 660. A shocking 3,375 people were sleeping rough three months after being released from prison - a 45% increase on the previous year. The early release scheme can only be effective with proper support and housing to give those being released a decent chance to thrive back in the community. Otherwise, many of those released early are likely to end up back in prison - entirely undermining the whole point of SDS40. #CriminalJustice #Homelessness #SDS40

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🌍 Reducing Recidivism in KenyaDid you know that the fight against recidivism in Kenya’s prisons, like in Nairobi county prisons goes beyond just incarcerating offenders? It's a a challenge that demands comprehensive strategies and community support.When it comes to factors influencing recidivism, I discovered some eye-opening insights:🔹 Rehabilitation Programs: Effective rehabilitation programs are critical. Programs focusing on education, vocational training, and psychological support significantly lower re-offense rates.🔹 Community Reintegration: Successful reintegration into society is paramount. Former inmates need robust support systems, including family acceptance, employment opportunities, and community programs that foster a sense of belonging and purpose.🔹 Policy and Governance: Strong policies that promote fair treatment, human rights, and post-release monitoring play a crucial role in reducing recidivism. The government's involvement and the implementation of evidence-based practices are essential.🔹 Socio-Economic Factors: Addressing underlying socio-economic issues such as poverty, lack of education, and unemployment is fundamental. These factors often contribute to criminal behavior and re-offending.It's time we shift our perspective from punishment to rehabilitation and support. By investing in comprehensive programs and community-based strategies, we can create a safer society and give former inmates a real chance at a fresh start.At Safer Communities Alliance #Recidivism #Kenya #PrisonReform #CommunitySupport #Rehabilitation #SocialChange

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🌸 Honoring Justice-Involved Mothers 🌸Reflecting on Mother’s Day this past weekend, I want to take a moment to recognize and support the millions of mothers who have been separated from their children due to incarceration. Here are some important facts to consider:▶ Nearly 150,000 incarcerated mothers spent this Mother’s Day apart from their children. Nearly 58% of all women in U.S. prisons are mothers, as are 80% of women in jails. Many are awaiting trial simply because they can’t afford bail.▶ Most incarcerated mothers are locked up for drug or property offenses, often rooted in poverty or substance use disorders. These women are often the primary caretakers of their children, meaning that their incarceration not only affects them but also tears families apart. ▶ Pregnant women in jails frequently face neglect and abuse in the healthcare system. Many states fail to meet basic standards of care for expectant mothers, leading to increased risks for both mothers and their unborn children. ▶ The rate of growth for female imprisonment has been twice as high as that of men since 1980. Black and Latinx women are particularly affected, with higher rates of imprisonment compared to white women. So this May, I invite you to stand in solidarity with incarcerated mothers and their families. Consider donating your time or money to organizations like #FreeBlackMamas, #CourtWatch, and #LifeAfterRelease. (Links in comments).Let's advocate for policies that prioritize freedom and reunification, rather than separation for mothers and families. #MothersDay #CriminalJusticeReform #SocialJustice #InvestInFreedomSources: Prison Policy Initiative, The Sentencing Project, Bureau of Justice Statistics

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The United States is the world leader in incarceration. This year marked 50 years of the mass incarceration crisis, with the prison population having grown nearly 500% since 1973. Today, nearly two million people – disproportionately Black – are incarcerated in prisons and jails.Stakeholders, including formerly incarcerated activists and lawmakers, have worked to scale back mass incarceration.Here are the 6 top 2023 policy reforms in decarceration, collateral consequences, and youth justice.- Decarceration Reforms- Drug Policy Reforms- Second Look Resentencing- Expanding Parole Eligibility to Young Defendants- Clean Slate Reforms- Guaranteeing Voting RightsInterested in learning more? Check out the Sentencing Reform article. https://lnkd.in/g9mG_9gZ#sentencingreform #legalreform #december #nonprofit #nonprofitorganization #criminaljustice #criminaljusticereform #reform #incarceration

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Boot camps are not new, they are just the latest iteration of a long line of policies which have incarcerated children with horrific consequences, especially for Māori. That will become even clearer when the royal commission on abuse in care reports back very soon.When boot camps were last tried in NZ (in around 2009) they failed. An evaluation found any tangential benefits were short-lived and moving young people away from their communities did more harm than good. This mirrors the international evidence. Boot camps were shut down in 2017.Boot camps are almost unanimously opposed by experts. For many of the young people they target, their offending is driven by factors like homelessness and trauma. As youth advocates have pointed out (see Aaron Hendry’s RNZ interview earlier this week for more on this), these factors are rarely addressed in boot camps and often made worse.The same is true of Youth Justice residences generally. In 2020 then-Children’s Commissioner Judge (now Justice) Andrew Becroft called for the phased closure of these residences due to the almost-inevitable harm they cause. To date, both Labour and National have ignored that call. The word ‘residences’ doesn’t do justice to how inhospitable these institutions are. They are concrete prisons built to contain children, the majority of whom will have mental health needs, learning difficulties, and be victims of abuse. They are built to contain, not support.Most of those young people will also be Māori. In my view, the ongoing incarceration of Māori children may also be a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. One thing that has changed since we last ran boot camps in this country is the release of the 2021 Waitangi Tribunal report, He Pāharakeke, he Rito Whakakīkinga Whāruarua. That report reiterated that Article 2 of Te Tiriti o Waitangi includes a guarantee of tino rangatiratanga over kainga, which encompasses the right for Māori to control how we raise our families. Removing young people from their communities and placing them in a children’s prison on the other side of the country is surely a breach of that right. The government is once again taking action which will disproportionally impact Māori with no regard for its Te Tiriti obligations. As with other breaches so far this term, it will not go unnoticed. One last thing. Soon we will see the final report of the royal commission on abuse in state care. That report will lay bare the horrific history successive governments have of systematically placing children, most of whom are Māori, in places where they are further abused. Boot camps are just the modern version of that horrific legacy. The government’s actions are already bad enough, but they will be made to look even worse in light of the commission’s report. It is not too late to reverse their position on bootcamps. They would be wise to do so.

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This is important. An excellent analysis here:

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