Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The New York Times - September 4, 2006
The need for condom programs behind bars was underscored last spring in a bulletin from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that documented the cases of 88 men who became H.I.V. positive while serving time in George state prisons. The C.D.C. concluded that unprotected sex among prison inmates was indeed taking place - despite denials by prison officials and rules forbidding it - and urged states without condom programs to investigate the feasibility of starting them.
The California State Legislature took the C.D.C. at its word last month, passing a landmark condom distribution bill that clearly deserves Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature. The bill, spearheaded by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, Democrat of West Hollywood, would allow public health agencies to enter the prisons and hand out condoms to inmates who want then.
Lawmakers who cared more about blocking the bill on moral grounds than about protecting the lives of inmates nearly succeeded in killing this bill. But a recently released state-sponsored poll suggests that California's voters are heavily behind it. Nearly 70 percent of the respondents said they favored condom distribution in prison to protect inmates against H.I.V. In addition, more than 85 percent believed that inmates should be tested for H.I.V. upon entering prison and offered disease prevention information while serving their time. Governor Schwarzenegger should take his cue from California's sensible majority.
060904
NYT060902
Copyright © 2006 - The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved. All New York Times articles contained on the AEGiS web site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of The New York Times Company. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. However, you may download articles (one machine readable copy and one print copy per page) for your personal, noncommercial use only.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .