Though inmates from the United States can sometimes make more money through Federal work programs, non-nationals are not permitted to make more than the base monthly amount. In California state prisons, women are forced to pay inflated prices for basic hygiene products. The rest of California's female prison population must purchase sanitary pads from the prison commissary that sells such items at two to three times the market rate. Such practices combined with the repressive pay scale create an environment where women will barter sex or other acts to satisfy their most basic needs. Persistent privacy violations are a fact of life for women in California prisons.
Guards observe female inmates at all times - taking showers, dressing and going to the bathroom.
Women are searched continuously, from pat downs after meals to strip and body searches after all visits. In Valley State Prison for Women strip searches are performed with even greater frequency. At times these searches have been an opportunity for some guards to sexually grope female inmates. Furthermore, female inmates have reported experiencing degrading and sexually explicit language and frequent harassment from guards. If an inmate protests or appeals to the prison administration, it can potentially mean more mistreatment, limited privileges or an increased sentence.