Women Need Better Treatment Behind Bars, Lawmakers Say

Article here. Excerpt:

'Middlesex County Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) held a roundtable discussion Monday with criminal justice reform advocates and formally incarcerated women to discuss legislation Lopez and Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle are introducing, modeled after legislation Booker introduced in the Senate, to reform the way women are treated behind bars.
...
During the roundtable, Lopez unveiled the "Dignity for Incarcerated Primary Caregivers Parents Act," which she will sponsor along with Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle and will introduce in the Assembly in the coming weeks.

This act will require that feminine hygiene products are not limited in any way shape or form and are provided to women, free of cost. This bill will also provide trauma informed care to incarcerated people and allow formerly incarcerated people to mentor currently incarcerated people on how to lead successful lives after prison. Finally, the bill will also appoint an ombudsman to monitor allegations of physical abuse and sexual assault.
...
“Not having immediate access to a primary caregiver can be traumatizing for children as well as their parent or guardian,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “With that in mind, it is vital that we continue to hear the concerns by those affected and encourage discussion in which we raise awareness of these difficulties as well as act upon bettering the challenges these families face.”'