NCJ Number
113322
Journal
National Sheriff Volume: 40 Issue: 4 Dated: (August/September 1988) Pages: 53-54,69
Date Published
1988
Length
3 pages
Annotation
While criminal justice professionals have developed policies and procedures for managing adult criminals infected with AIDS, they have not yet developed ways for dealing with juveniles diagnosed as having AIDS.
Abstract
When juveniles are infected with AIDS it is necessary to develop policies and procedures for parents, foster parents, and relatives as well as juvenile probation and justice personnel who care for or work with them. Many issues arise when juveniles are carriers of AIDS: testing, counseling, housing, and the confidentiality of medical records. Important decisions must be made about the kinds of immunizations received by children with HIV infection and who should know about them. Child sexual assault victims are at increased risk for AIDS and may require testing for the disease. Because many adolescents are sexually active and engage in drug use, they can unwittingly spread the infection to others. Teenage girls are vulnerable to the disease through heterosexual contact, and they could spread the disease to their unborn children. In addition, homeless and runaway youth often turn to prostitution and are at extremely high risk for the disease. The National Sheriffs' Association, under a recent grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, will develop training and model policies and procedures for persons and agencies caring for young people with AIDS.