NCJ Number
136099
Date Published
1991
Length
45 pages
Annotation
To cope with the increase of reported cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Federal and State governments have passed laws to protect persons unwillingly exposed to HIV through crime. Concurrently, correctional agencies have established policies and procedures to notify correctional professionals of possible exposure to HIV and to insure offenders' of confidentiality rights.
Abstract
With increased attention paid to victims of sexual crimes, victims' rights organizations and rape crisis centers have developed polices related to HIV testing. These include testing the victim at the time of the attack and then for a period of 1 year at 3-month intervals. Victims in California, Florida, Kansas, Oregon, and Texas may request testing for their offenders, and laws in an additional 15 states provide victims with test results. These laws have certain implications for correctional agencies where cooperation is necessary from prosecutors, victims, and offenders. Though the majority of prisons dictate a privacy rights policy, many employees are concerned about exposure to HIV. Through education, training, and the establishment of testing procedures, employees' fears of HIV can be addressed. 5 appendixes