HIV risk reduction and service delivery strategies in criminal justice settings

Health Promotion Programs

April 2021

Full Citation

Inciardi, J. A. (1996). HIV risk reduction and service delivery strategies in criminal justice settings. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 13(5), 421-428. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0740-5472%2896%2900117-1

Abstract

Because of the HIV risk behaviors of substance abusers, particularly injection drug users and those who exchange sex for drugs, and the large numbers who are already infected with HIV or showing symptoms of AIDS, significant service delivery issues are associated with their criminal justice processing. Many strategies have been implemented in correctional settings in an effort to control the transmission of HIV. A number of these are for the purpose of lowering transmission risk in institutions, whereas others have been structured for the sake of offering prevention/intervention to inmates before they return to the free community. As such, prisons and jails represent opportune settings for HIV prevention and education. Common HIV control/prevention/education strategies include mandatory testing of inmates for HIV, segregating infected inmates from the general prison population, establishing special health care units for HIV positive and AIDS symptomatic inmates, and offering HIV prevention and risk reduction programs. Because drug abuse treatment results in substantial declines in the use of heroin, cocaine, and other drugs, treatment per se can play a significant role in reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS among those coming to the attention of the criminal justice system. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)