Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The Bay Area Reporter - Friday, April 23, 1999
Mark Norby
The HIV in Prison Committee claims that Plummer is responsible for the continuing brutalization of HIV-positive prisoners due to Plummer's personal prejudices and misunderstandings of individuals with HIV and AIDS. In addition, the committee "believes it is time that all employees working at the jail receive proper training regarding the safe care and treatment of people living with HIV and AIDS," Judy Greenspan, the committee's director, told the Bay Area Reporter.
"We also collectively call on all personnel within the Alameda County jail system to support adequate medical and psychiatric care for all jail detainees. The [Alameda County] board has been receptive to our concerns so far, and we believe we will make significant progress in improving the treatment of HIV-positive prisoners at Wednesday's meeting," Greenspan added.
The committee has closely followed the case of Torey South, the 37-year-old transgendered woman who was denied her hormone medication while serving a three-year sentence in the California penitentiary. "South's case has given us further motivation to monitor the California prison system," Greenspan said.
Due to mistreatment at the hands of prison guards, South suffered hot flashes, dizziness, vomiting, stretch marks, a loss of breast volume, and disfigurement of her breasts. South will be awarded damages from the State Department of Corrections due to her mistreatment, following a decision issued in U.S. District Court in Sacramento earlier this month.
The Alameda County board meeting is open to the public. The HIV in Prison Committee can be reached at (510) 533-2590, or e-mail Greenspan at judyg@igc.org.
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