NCJ Number
134497
Date Published
1991
Length
90 pages
Annotation
The threat of HIV transmission to police officers is discussed in relation to relevant constitutional issues and current policies.
Abstract
On the basis of current medical information about HIV and AIDS, HIV presents a small risk for casual contact transmission to police officers during the performance of their law enforcement duties. For this reason, the contemporary list policies violate the right to privacy and thus are constitutionally unsound. Police officers can be protected from HIV transmission more effectively by adequate training, needed medical equipment, and implementation of South Florida standard operating procedure (S.O.P.) concerning AIDS and law enforcement. A survey of AIDS policies and procedures among South Florida Police Departments reveals a wide variety of AIDS and HIV policies and procedures with different degrees of effectiveness and sensitivity to privacy rights. The jurisdictions vary in the amount of training officers receive concerning AIDS, provision of medical equipment, lack of procedures for dealing with scenes with contagious disease, and confidentiality of HIV information. A lack of or ineffectiveness of AIDS policies and procedures has led to South Florida jurisdictions civil liability claims. Using the model S.O.P. for AIDS, the officers can be properly informed about AIDS and reduce their chance of HIV exposure without jeopardizing the rights of the people they serve. The key to avoid civil claims is to have a strong AIDS policy. 53 notes and references