Budget Cuts Hit the Illinois Prison System Via Issued Clothing to Inmates

No matter what state you live in the U.S., there are always talks of budget cuts to every known institution. It seems budget cuts could be the culprit of inmates having to wear dirty and old underwear for several days at a time. At one time, according to John Howard Association, inmates were issued new clothes every six months, but is no longer happening in the Illinois prison system. They did state issues at the Department of Corrections, along with the prices of goods to make these pieces of clothing, have caused the new additions of clothing to inmates to cease.

What could the inmates do to insure not having to wear dirty underwear until washed?

People on the outside world may never consider one option; going commando for a day. Sure the inmates could go commando for a day and hand wash their undies to insure they don't get sick or diseases from wearing dirty underwear.

For those who are incarcerated could ask friends and family to bring these items to them in this instance if they have visitors. The downside to this is the trading system inside prisons could still leave inmates with the same problem as they have now. The upside would be, they could trade the new underwear for other incidentals. There is also the possible problem of being stabbed and beaten due to family and friends bringing in new underwear for their loved ones. This is the worst possible scenario inmates could face.

What other problems can wearing dirty underwear cause inmates?

At any rate, there are possible solutions to this unhealthy problem for their inmates if they were to search out solutions. Inmates, no matter the reason they are incarcerated, should never put in a worse health situation than they are already in.

Not only is the wearing of dirty underwear for days unsanitary in a closely controlled environment, the mental and emotional aspects could be added to the problem especially when temperatures outside get higher during summer hours.

The sheer strain on an inmates mentality could cause further interruptions that would not exist due to the odors and mental breakdowns they could possibly face in this situation.