NCJ Number
194276
Journal
The Prison Journal Volume: 82 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2002 Pages: 69-83
Date Published
March 2002
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This survey examined the extent of HIV prevention interventions available to approximately 70,000 inmates housed in the 69 correctional facilities that comprised New York State's prison system in 2000 and explored barriers to offering prevention services.
Abstract
The survey instrument had five sections: HIV/AIDS prevention education activities, inmate involvement in HIV prevention activities, individual level HIV/AIDS prevention counseling, group level HIV/AIDS prevention counseling, and HIV/AIDS support groups. The survey sought to determine the availability of these prevention services within the previous 12-month period at each correctional facility. All 69 of the facilities reported prevention education, and 59 said they met or exceeded inmate demand. More than 90 percent reported individual and group counseling, and more than three-fourths offered both English and Spanish. Support groups were reported at 73 percent of the prisons. Significant progress in meeting HIV prevention needs of New York State inmates has apparently been achieved. Finding time in the prison schedule was identified as the most common barrier to offering HIV prevention education sessions. Although scheduling options during the day may be limited, it may be possible to use evening and weekend time for such sessions. The unavailability of in-house staff might be overcome by greater use of contractors. The need for HIV prevention materials in Spanish is an issue of concern nationally. Meeting HIV prevention needs of all inmates -- inmates known to be infected, inmates uncertain of their HIV-infection status, and inmates who believe they are uninfected -- remains a priority of New York State's Criminal Justice Initiative. 1 table and 44 references