Denying prisoners basic hygiene items negatively impacts health, increases health costs in the system, subjects prisoners to indignity, accomplishes nothing in rehabilitation, and is a form of torture. Heart disease is linked to gum and mouth disease. Toothbrushes and cavity fighting toothpaste promote general health. Women must sometimes use the same sanitary item for days at a time without changing, which can lead to major health problems, even potentially deadly Toxic Shock. Lack of necessary hygiene items, such as toilet paper, soap, shampoo, can lead to infections, skin diseases or other conditions. Withholding these items is cruel and unusual punishment. Privately run prisons must be held to equal human and civil rights standards as government facilities or lose their contracts.
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