Courtney Alspaugh was born and raised in Ohio. She is a certified plumber and a caregiver for her grandmother. When she’s not working, she is advocating for incarcerated women and those who’s voices cannot be heard. She is part of the coalition that championed OH HB29, a law that mandates that all Ohio correctional facilities provide free menstrual products and showers to incarcerated women and girls across the state. One of her favorite activities is spending quality time with her dog.

Managing a Cycle in Ohio Prisons

My name is Courtney Alspaugh. I was incarcerated at Dayton Correctional Institution (DCI) in Ohio for five years and was released in September of 2021. I am a skilled plumber and am currently a caregiver for my grandmother.

While incarcerated, one requirement to receive state pay was to have a state-issued job. So, I applied for a position in maintenance to be a plumber. Working as a woman during my menstrual cycle was a very terrible experience. Having poor quality sanitary pads and constantly asking my male boss to allow me to leave the job site to use the restroom was embarrassing. This was just to see if I had blood in my pants or to fix the pad that had shifted in my underwear, which made me feel gross. I got less work done on those days because I had to regularly stop and leave the job site.

The sanitary pads were so poor that I would tear the cloth and cotton apart, roll the cotton into the cloth, and tie off the stuffed cloth to make a homemade tampon.

Sometimes this was even done on the job site. A lot of the days, I felt depressed and didn’t want to leave my cell. Not having enough feminine products led me to beg other residents or corrections officers for supplies, just to hear them say it wasn’t their problem. I couldn’t get any help, making me feel dehumanized and helpless.

I have a story that is honestly embarrassing to me, and I think that anyone would be embarrassed. When I first arrived at the prison, I was stripped of all my personal possessions and had started my menstrual cycle. I had no sanitary products and was at a loss! I asked other residents and got no help. I asked corrections officers, and they said I’d have to talk to a Sergeant. This was on a Saturday night, and the Sergeant would not return until Monday. I was new and unable to shop at the commissary. That privilege only happens after you are awarded a visitor who can put money into your account. That would take weeks, so I had no other choice. I took one of my state-issued wash cloths and rolled it up and put it in my underwear.

It was one of the most demeaning moments of my life and I never want to feel that way again.

That is why I joined the fight to pass Ohio HB29. I knew that law makers had the power to keep other women from feeling that way too. And although I was released a few years ago, these issues are still a problem today.

I knew that access to feminine hygiene products was a problem in the institution for myself and so many others, and it felt good to help the community I once was a part of. So when the opportunity was presented, I yearned to step up and be the woman I grew to be while inside the prison system. When it was my turn to testify at our very first hearing for HB29, I was very nervous. I knew that I had to be a voice for so many who wouldn’t be heard. As the words started to flow, my mind and body became more relaxed. I saw that the representatives were listening to my story and really trying to focus on what I was saying. Finally having a voice after so many years of feeling like nobody was hearing me felt like a big accomplishment.

It took many years working on HB29, but as we say in prison “all we have is time.” Time didn’t matter, and I didn’t care how long it took. I was fighting for what is humanly right.

During the process of gathering information for HB29, I learned that I was not alone. Many of the ladies in our advocacy group needed guidance to voice their thoughts and feelings. We were worried about the consequences of asking for help. We had subconsciously learned not to ask for help while in prison, and if we got the courage to ask for help, the corrections officers would shut us down. Therefore, having the honor to be the one to help others helped me gain confidence to make changes to the institution.

I believe there are more changes that need to be made in our Ohio institutions.

I would like to see residents receive the correct amount of clothing needed for a full week. There are 7 days a week, but residents don’t get clothing for the full 7 days, including bras and underwear. The clothing provided is cheap, tears easily, and is never the correct size, so residents need new clothing more often than is allowed. When you go to the Quartermaster and ask for additional clothing, you are often told that the timing isn’t “right”. It’s very embarrassing and I remember feeling helpless. It’s also inhumane and should not be the institutional standard for hygiene etiquette. In Ohio prisons, you are issued 5 pairs of undergarments, 5 pairs of socks, 1 washcloth, 1 towel, and 3 sports bras. Women with larger chests have special bras ordered and only receive 3 a year, or when the institution decides to purchase more. These items can only be exchanged every 6 months, and on a “one for one” basis. This means that you have to give one back to receive another one and cannot accumulate items.

            I am proposing that the state representatives make changes for the institution to increase the number of clothing items to 7 undergarments, 7 pairs of socks, 7 regular bras or sports bras, 7 special bras, 2 towels, and 2 washcloths. It seems small, but I believe that this minor change could make a huge difference in the hygiene practices as well as helping to improve the residents’ self-esteem. I still care for those inside. Just because I am back in society doesn’t mean that I didn’t gain family inside of the institution.