What Should the Role of Law Enforcement Be in the Societal Response to the AIDS Epidemic by the End of the Twentieth Century?

• NCJ Number: 118746
• Author(s): G W Winters
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 94 pages
• Corporate Author: California Cmssn on Peace Officer Standards and Training
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services; POST Media Distribution Ctr
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This research project devised a hypothetical scenario of a large city police department paralyzed by fear of AIDS and established guidelines for law enforcement policymakers to deal with the AIDS issue.

Abstract

The AIDS epidemic offers law enforcement unique challenges in maintaining professionalism and services. If law enforcement personnel are paralyzed by fear for their own safety and the safety of their families, they will not accept the risks considered normal in police work. Police departments in urban areas serving populations of over 250,000 persons are most likely to confront and be affected by the AIDS epidemic on a frequent basis. The strategic plan for such departments is based on a key policy statement that law enforcement must educate and train personnel in the risks of infection by the AIDS virus and must share the knowledge gained with the public. The plan stresses education and support of employees' families, support of uninfected employees who may see some of their coworkers suffer from AIDS, training, continuous monitoring of the work environment, and recognition that employee infections may occur and must be dealt with. Trends evaluated as part of the research effort include funds spent on AIDS activities, political concerns related to AIDS, health care costs, restrictions on civil liberties, and cost of treatment per AIDS patient. Appendixes contain supplemental information on the research project. 106 references, 10 tables, 13 figures.