NCJ Number
152604
Journal
Current Issues in Criminal Justice Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (July 1992) Pages: 28-36
Date Published
1992
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This analysis of issues related to AIDS in correctional facilities in Australia concludes that corrections officials should base policies on the expectation that significant HIV infection occurs in prisons, that it is of public health importance, and that HIV transmission can be substantially reduced by affordable measures that the public would support.
Abstract
Although fewer episodes of high-risk behavior occur in prisons than in the community, each episode is probably more hazardous in prison than outside. More HIV containment will be achieved by trying to reduce the hazards involved in risk-taking behavior than in trying to eliminate or reduce the frequency of these high-risk behaviors. Moreover, multiple complementary prevention strategies are available to reduce HIV transmission in prisons; most of these have already been demonstrated to be effective in the community and are likely to be just as effective in prisons. Furthermore, policymakers should recognize the need to focus on policy effectiveness rather than the short-term popularity of policies that increase the rigors of prison life. Footnotes