NCJ Number
129066
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 37 Issue: 1 Dated: special issue (January 1991) Pages: 101-124
Date Published
1991
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This article describes a variety of programs designed to reduce the risk of HIV transmission among persons in the criminal justice system: in pretrial release, institutional corrections, and community supervision.
Abstract
The first part of this article develops the context of HIV prevention interventions in the criminal justice system. It discusses the relationships between injection drug use and HIV infection; the prevalence of drug and injection drug use in populations in the criminal justice system; the criminal justice system in general as a setting for drug treatment; and the numerous HIV prevention programs and their design. The second part considers options for implementing prevention programs during various phases of the criminal justice process. Shared needle use and unprotected sexual intercourse are identified as two behaviors with the highest risk for HIV transmission for drug users, their sexual partners, and their offspring. Educational messages alone will not change these ingrained behaviors; well-designed prevention programs and trained treatment staffs are required. Because of its controlled setting, the criminal justice system provides an appropriate forum for evaluation of prevention programs including those which may be transferred to other agencies. 3 notes and 68 references (Author abstract modified)