NCJ Number
149445
Date Published
Unknown
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A site visit and hearing were conducted by the National Commission on AIDS in August 1990 to identify and understand issues related to AIDS in correctional facilities in the Federal, State, and local corrections systems.
Abstract
Results revealed that inmates with HIV infection are rapidly acquiring tuberculosis, and many more inmates are at increased risk from the resurgent tuberculosis epidemic in the country's prisons. In addition, inmates with HIV disease are often automatically segregated from the rest of the prison community despite the lack of a public health basis for this practice. Moreover, lack of education of both inmates and staff creates fear and discrimination toward individuals with HIV disease and unjust policies toward inmates living with HIV disease. Furthermore, former inmates are reentering their communities with little or no added knowledge about HIV disease and how to prevent it. To address these issues, the appropriate Federal agencies should develop guidelines for the prevention and treatment of HIV disease in all correctional facilities; assess conditions and programs related to incarcerated women and youths, as well as children born in custody; create a program to attract health care providers to work in correctional systems; clarify Federal policies on prisoners' access to clinical trials and investigational new drugs; and make meaningful drug treatment available both inside and outside correctional facilities. Additional recommendations