State Representative and Dixfield Police Chief Richard Pickett has been under fire since his recent statements at a hearing regarding expanding access to menstrual products in jail according to Maine Beacon. Pickett's controversial statement regarding the bill, LD 628, was

Quite frankly, and I don't mean this in any disrespect, the jail system and the correctional system was never meant to be a country club...they have a right to have these & they have them. If that wasn't the case, then I would be supporting the motion, but they do.

Pickett has received national attention from his statement from TeenVogue, to Daily Beast, and Newsweek.

Christian Civic League of Maine via Facebook
Christian Civic League of Maine via Facebook
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Maine jails are currently required to supply these items but depending on the jail they can be limited which poses a chance for an inmate to run out forcing them to make their own product or have to purchase items at the commissary. The bill would put all jails on the same level with the same requirements and the amendment reads as follows:

Any female person incarcerated in a jail or other county correctional facility has a right to comprehensive access to menstrual products, including, but not limited to, sanitary pads, tampons and menstrual cups, provided without charge to the incarcerated person.

Despite Pickett's comments, the bill was advanced in a 6-4 vote.

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