HIV/AIDS and Prisons: Legitimate Concern

• NCJ Number: 131607
• Journal: Criminology Australia Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (January/February 1991) Pages: 9-16
• Author(s): M Kirby
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Paper presented at HIV/AIDS and Prisons Conference, Melbourne, Australia, November 1990

Annotation

The epidemic of HIV infection worldwide will present a challenge to correctional policies and institutions in Australia and requires additional measures beyond the current efforts to prevent HIV transmission through intravenous drug use and unprotected sexual intercourse.

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) has adopted guidelines emphasizing the responsibility of correctional administrations to minimize HIV transmission in prisons and the need to ensure prisoners' rights of access to educational programs, voluntary testing, confidentiality of results, availability of counseling, medical services equivalent to those available to people with AIDS in the community, and information on treatment programs. Unfortunately, Australian politicians and prison administrators have not adhered to the WHO guidelines and have sometimes established strategies based on ignorance, prejudice, or indifference to the true problems involved in containing the HIV epidemic. Discussions of HIV transmission, its impact on prisons, and policy issues and 13 references