HIV/AIDS Policies in Correctional Settings

Public policy regarding health care in correctional facilities shapes how male inmates receive prevention and treatment for HIV/AIDS. This study will investigate and identify the ways in which specific legislation and judicial rulings on Federal level have impacted management of HIV/AIDS and access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in correctional facilities. It will also investigate the ways these policies have influenced the rates of HIV/AIDS in prisons in comparison to the rates within the general population. Evaluating the effectiveness and influences of these policies, both state and federal, with regards to management and treatment is critical for the future of correctional health care. Because most inmates who have contracted HIV will be leaving the correctional setting and be re-engaging in their communities, it is imperative to discover the effective ways of treating and managing HIV/AIDS in order to teach the imprisoned population the necessary prevention and management skills