NCJ Number
113020
Date Published
1989
Length
179 pages
Annotation
In responding to the needs of community corrections agencies, this report reviews medical and legal information on AIDS and offers guidelines and examples of policies and strategies for dealing with AIDS in probation and parole services.
Abstract
The report is based on materials received from 68 probation agencies across the United States and 47 parole agencies, from discussions with community corrections personnel, and from an extensive review of pertinent literature. The report covers the medical definition of AIDS and how it is transmitted; the epidemiology of AIDS in the United States and in probation and parole populations; AIDS testing and related issues; education and training; and confidentiality, legal, and labor relations issues. Survey findings indicate that the age group at greatest risk for AIDS, those between 20 and 39 years of age, is also the age group in which the greatest number of criminal offenders cluster. Survey respondents report that a situation of fear and apprehension among staff and clients in probation and parole services can be reduced with the institution of an education program. Some community corrections systems have developed resource guides to help supervisory staff direct AIDS clients to appropriate medical and social services. The most critical need is for detailed information support and specific procedural guidelines that help probation and parole officers handle daily issues presented by AIDS clients. For community corrections services in general, AIDS presents the dilemma of how to develop effective policies that serve the needs of HIV-positive offenders but also protect the larger community in which HIV-positive offenders are supervised. Supplemental information on probation and parole agencies responding to the AIDS survey is appended. 121 references, 14 figures.