NCJ Number
109361
Date Published
1987
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Designed to help sheriffs develop effective AIDS-related policies and procedures, this videotape presents guidelines for jail personnel for eliminating the risk of AIDS infection and addresses such issues as segregation, mandatory testing, and liability.
Abstract
After defining the disease of AIDS, the tape identifies high-risk groups and States with the highest levels of AIDS cases. This discussion emphasizes that AIDS cannot be transmitted through casual contact, but only through sexual relations or contaminated blood. Ways that jail personnel can prevent any possible exchange of blood are explained. Other suggestions address CPR, handling inmate violence, and cleaning up blood or other bodily fluids. After describing the ELISA and Western Blot tests and their high costs, the video examines problems of treatment and confidentiality that mandatory testing could cause. Also considered are segregation in small jails, liability incurred if a law enforcement officer refuses to provide services because of AIDS, and training for staff and inmates. The video emphasizes that a department is exposed to liability if the staff are not trained about AIDS. It also recommends that all agencies create a written AIDS policy.