Prison Flow Project
@prisonflowproject.bsky.social
https://theprisonflowproject.com/
Information on periods in prison. Run by founder, Dr. Miriam Vishniac, MPP, PhD.
Information on periods in prison. Run by founder, Dr. Miriam Vishniac, MPP, PhD.
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.
Menstruation as misconduct: How prisons punish people for having their periods
Our analysis of prison rules and sanctions across all fifty states and the federal system — as well as accounts of incarcerated people — reveal ...
www.prisonpolicy.org
November 12, 2025 at 8:45 PM
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!
November 12, 2025 at 3:14 PM
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!
Reposted by Prison Flow Project
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!
November 11, 2025 at 1:41 PM
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.
Thomas Koskovich writes that it's stressful when anyone dies in your prison, especially when no one ever tells you what happened.
In Prison, Every Death Creates a Ripple Effect
It’s stressful when anyone dies on your wing, especially when no one ever tells you what happened.
www.themarshallproject.org
November 5, 2025 at 2:52 PM
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.
In 2020, PJP began with a radical idea that people behind bars have essential perspectives on the criminal legal system. In five years, that idea has grown into a national network of more than 800 writers who’ve published over 2,500 stories across 44 states.
November 3, 2025 at 7:28 PM
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.
Today was a hard day. Regulations that we passed unanimously last year, after 7 years of advocacy, were largely gutted. The FCC capitulated to the correctional telecom industry in roughly doubling rate caps for prison and jail calls. I'm truly sorry.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/u...
F.C.C. Changes Course on the Price of Prisoners’ Phone Calls
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:45 PM
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...
2025 U.S. Conference on Poverty and Basic Needs
Non-Menstruator Bias in Prison Resources Doctoral Dissertation: The New Correctional Afterthought: Menstruation and Incarceration in the U.S.A. – Edinburgh Research Archive, Why people are ma…
theprisonflowproject.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
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.
St. Louis activist Khanika Harper found the perfect way to marry her passion for justice with the power of love: She became a prison wedding officiant.
Prison Wedding Rules: No Cake, No Lace, But Lots of Love
St. Louis activist Khanika Harper found the perfect way to marry her passion for justice with the power of love: She became a prison wedding officiant.
www.themarshallproject.org
October 15, 2025 at 3:39 PM
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
Period Action Day 2025
Menstruation and Incarceration Saturday, October 11th 10:30 AM CT/11:30 AM ET By Jamin Mahmood of Vulvani – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Incarcerated menstruators are some of the most vulnerable p…
theprisonflowproject.com
October 12, 2025 at 2:26 AM
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
Looking for something to do this #PeriodActionDay? The Prison Flow Project is hosting a webinar panel on periods in prison: how periods impact the experience of prison, how current policies hurt menstruators, and what we can do to make change. 10:30 am CT, October 11th! Sign up at bit.ly/4pzXKj5
October 8, 2025 at 4:06 PM
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
Reposted by Prison Flow Project
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...
Advocates, lawmakers urge Gov. Maura Healey to halt $360 million rebuild of women’s prison in Framingham - The Boston Globe
The project is an expensive misstep that ignores what inmates inside the state’s only women’s prison actually say they need, it said.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 3, 2025 at 9:34 PM
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...
We’re starting a monthly blog in early 2026 focusing on periods in places of confinement! If you have experienced that or are an advocate or researcher, we want to hear from you! Check out our submission guidelines below. #socialscience #menstruation #menstrualequity #periodpoverty #menstrualrights
Blog Submission Guidelines
We look forward to receiving submissions from researchers, advocates, and those who have experienced a period in confinement! Possible topics for blog posts are listed below. If you have an idea fo…
theprisonflowproject.com
October 3, 2025 at 3:18 PM
We’re starting a monthly blog in early 2026 focusing on periods in places of confinement! If you have experienced that or are an advocate or researcher, we want to hear from you! Check out our submission guidelines below. #socialscience #menstruation #menstrualequity #periodpoverty #menstrualrights
Looking for something to do this #PeriodActionDay? The Prison Flow Project is hosting a webinar panel on periods in prison: how periods impact the experience of prison, how current policies hurt menstruators, and what we can do to make change. 10:30 am CT, October 11th! Sign up at bit.ly/4pzXKj5
October 1, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Looking for something to do this #PeriodActionDay? The Prison Flow Project is hosting a webinar panel on periods in prison: how periods impact the experience of prison, how current policies hurt menstruators, and what we can do to make change. 10:30 am CT, October 11th! Sign up at bit.ly/4pzXKj5
Are YOU planning on going to the 14th Annual U.S. Conference on Poverty & Basic Needs? Both Prison Flow Project founder, @miriamvishniac.bsky.social and board member Regan Moss, MPH will be presenting! Hosted by @diapernetwork.bsky.social and @periodsupplies.bsky.social, learn more at BIT.LY/CPBN25
September 30, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Are YOU planning on going to the 14th Annual U.S. Conference on Poverty & Basic Needs? Both Prison Flow Project founder, @miriamvishniac.bsky.social and board member Regan Moss, MPH will be presenting! Hosted by @diapernetwork.bsky.social and @periodsupplies.bsky.social, learn more at BIT.LY/CPBN25
Periods in prison are not niche, they fundamentally impact the experience of prison for menstruators and show how dehumanizing people in the name of ‘justice’ has serious consequences.
In a recent piece, Kelsey Dodson shares what it's like to menstruate in prison. One woman says she was forced to bleed through her underwear, her pants, and finally her white blanket during an hour-long count. This piece was co-published with @theguardian.com. Please give it a read.
What It's Like to Have Your Period in Prison
Even at a women’s prison, your menstruation care needs may not be met.
prisonjournalismproject.org
September 24, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Periods in prison are not niche, they fundamentally impact the experience of prison for menstruators and show how dehumanizing people in the name of ‘justice’ has serious consequences.
Prison guards routinely use their power over menstrual products to sexually abuse women in their power. Yet attorneys routinely fail to call these items out by name in legal documents, essentially covering up sex-linked abuse. www.themarshallproject.org/2025/03/10/s...
Why Solitary Confinement Is a Safe Haven for Sexually Abusive Guards
After eight years in “the hole” at Texas’ Lane Murray Unit, Kwaneta Harris documents the “daily reality” of staff sexual exploitation and violence.
www.themarshallproject.org
August 27, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Prison guards routinely use their power over menstrual products to sexually abuse women in their power. Yet attorneys routinely fail to call these items out by name in legal documents, essentially covering up sex-linked abuse. www.themarshallproject.org/2025/03/10/s...
Are you someone who is interested in #confinedperiods, studies the topic, has experienced one, or wants to summarize academic manuscripts for a lay audience? Coming soon, the Prison Flow Project monthly blog: a unique place for sharing narratives, period.
theprisonflowproject.com/2025/08/15/i...
theprisonflowproject.com/2025/08/15/i...
Introduction
The Prison Flow Project BLOG will soon provide a platform for advocates, academics, and those with prison experience to share insights about periods in confinement. Highlighting the impact on healt…
theprisonflowproject.com
August 25, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Are you someone who is interested in #confinedperiods, studies the topic, has experienced one, or wants to summarize academic manuscripts for a lay audience? Coming soon, the Prison Flow Project monthly blog: a unique place for sharing narratives, period.
theprisonflowproject.com/2025/08/15/i...
theprisonflowproject.com/2025/08/15/i...
Stumbled across this amazing presentation the other day from 2021 and I will never stop being blown away by rad young women speaking up and calling out bullshit. youtu.be/yq2o-YPLE8A?...
Why Aren’t Prisons Built for Periods? | Taryn Christy | TEDxUofISpringfield
YouTube video by TEDx Talks
youtu.be
August 22, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Stumbled across this amazing presentation the other day from 2021 and I will never stop being blown away by rad young women speaking up and calling out bullshit. youtu.be/yq2o-YPLE8A?...
Finally making moves to establish The Prison Flow Project as a nonprofit supporting, among other things, research on menstruation in places of confinement and the voices of those directly affected. Hit me up if you have advice, pls!
August 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Finally making moves to establish The Prison Flow Project as a nonprofit supporting, among other things, research on menstruation in places of confinement and the voices of those directly affected. Hit me up if you have advice, pls!
How serious can menstrual discrimination be? Well, it affects discipline and can prevent earning any ‘good time.’ It places an unfair financial burden on menstruators. It isolates them from their families and may prevent visits with attorneys. And it can cause serious mental and physical issues.
Doctoral dissertation now publicly accessible! dx.doi.org/10.7488/era/...
New correctional afterthought: menstruation and incarceration in the U.S.A.
dx.doi.org
July 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
How serious can menstrual discrimination be? Well, it affects discipline and can prevent earning any ‘good time.’ It places an unfair financial burden on menstruators. It isolates them from their families and may prevent visits with attorneys. And it can cause serious mental and physical issues.
Doctoral dissertation now publicly accessible! dx.doi.org/10.7488/era/...
New correctional afterthought: menstruation and incarceration in the U.S.A.
dx.doi.org
July 23, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Doctoral dissertation now publicly accessible! dx.doi.org/10.7488/era/...
The website now includes a document library with a full collection of the handbooks, commissary lists, and rule books obtained from all jurisdictions. Please feel free to use this as a resource! theprisonflowproject.com/document-lib...
Document Library
Below is a complete listing of documents, mostly handbooks but also some commissary lists, collected as part of this work. Documents are dated where that information is available, and given the des…
theprisonflowproject.com
July 9, 2025 at 2:42 AM
The website now includes a document library with a full collection of the handbooks, commissary lists, and rule books obtained from all jurisdictions. Please feel free to use this as a resource! theprisonflowproject.com/document-lib...
Dissertation incoming! Posting link as soon as it's live.
If you don't call me Dr. Vishniac, I will not even be passing the salt, ok?
July 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Dissertation incoming! Posting link as soon as it's live.