Running Head: Inmate Behavior 1 Inmate Behavior 7 Inmate Behavior Tommy K. Bush Sr. Troy University February 4, 2014Abstract In many parts of the world, one of the most extensively discussed issues on the public agenda today is the increase in crime rate and increase in the prison population. Correctional facilities, i.e. jails and prisons, are faced with various issues that warrant for consideration for the betterment of the lives of the inmates in these facilities. One of the major issues mainly faced by the inmates in these correctional centers is the issue concerned with the spread of communicable diseases, especially HIV and AIDS among the inmates. HIV/AIDS among prison inmates is a growing concern that has been on the spotlight since the mid-1980s. The concern is mainly for the various reasons, which include increased rates of incarceration and high risk inmates. The paper aims at looking into the issue of HIV and AIDS as a corrections issue among prison inmates and to suggest ways in which this issue can be improved or resolved to enhance correctional operations. An analysis of this problem is provided for based on various statistical data for which there sources are included in the reference section of the paper. In addition, a variety of recommendations on how to improve the issue at hand is included in the paper. Description of the problem that exists The Bureau of justice statistics in 2002 attest that the rate of confirmed cases of HIV and AIDS among the prison population in the United States was 3.5 times the general United States population rate of HIV confirmed cases. Indeed, data regarding AIDS related deaths among the inmates is more negative. Between 2007 and 2008, California and Florida reported the largest increases in the number of inmates who were infected with HIV or had confirmed HIV/AIDS. In the United States, during 2007, 130 state and federal prisoners died from HIV/AIDS-related causes. Other states such as New York and Texas reported more AIDS-related deaths during 2007. This has seen inmates’ die of AIDS related causes as various studies of prison inmates report a high rate of HIV infection among inmates since the HIV and AIDS outbreak. Undoubtedly, there might be a high risk of being infected with the HIV while in prison (Hensley, 2002). The high rate of HIV infection in prisons can be attributed to high risk behaviors for HIV transmission, which include drug abuse, sharing of needles, sex, tattooing and homosexuality. Prior to incarceration most prison inmates engage in risky sexual practices such as unprotected sex with multiple partners, transactional sex, drug abuse, sex in exchange for drugs, sexual abuse, homosexuality and impaired judgment from drug intoxication. Concerning the existen.

1. Running Head: Inmate Behavior
1
Inmate Behavior
7
Inmate Behavior
Tommy K. Bush Sr.
Troy University
February 4, 2014Abstract
In many parts of the world, one of the most extensively
discussed issues on the public agenda today is the increase in
crime rate and increase in the prison population.
Correctional facilities, i.e. jails and prisons, are faced with
various issues that warrant for consideration for the betterment
of the lives of the inmates in these facilities. One of the major
issues mainly faced by the inmates in these correctional centers
is the issue concerned with the spread of communicable
diseases, especially HIV and AIDS among the inmates.
HIV/AIDS among prison inmates is a growing concern that has
been on the spotlight since the mid-1980s. The concern is
mainly for the various reasons, which include increased rates of
incarceration and high risk inmates.
The paper aims at looking into the issue of HIV and AIDS as a
corrections issue among prison inmates and to suggest ways in
which this issue can be improved or resolved to enhance
correctional operations. An analysis of this problem is provided
for based on various statistical data for which there sources are
included in the reference section of the paper. In addition, a
variety of recommendations on how to improve the issue at hand
is included in the paper.
Description of the problem that exists
The Bureau of justice statistics in 2002 attest that the rate of
confirmed cases of HIV and AIDS among the prison population
in the United States was 3.5 times the general United States

2. population rate of HIV confirmed cases. Indeed, data regarding
AIDS related deaths among the inmates is more negative.
Between 2007 and 2008, California and Florida reported the
largest increases in the number of inmates who were infected
with HIV or had confirmed HIV/AIDS. In the United States,
during 2007, 130 state and federal prisoners died from
HIV/AIDS-related causes. Other states such as New York and
Texas reported more AIDS-related deaths during 2007. This has
seen inmates’ die of AIDS related causes as various studies of
prison inmates report a high rate of HIV infection among
inmates since the HIV and AIDS outbreak. Undoubtedly, there
might be a high risk of being infected with the HIV while in
prison (Hensley, 2002).
The high rate of HIV infection in prisons can be attributed to
high risk behaviors for HIV transmission, which include drug
abuse, sharing of needles, sex, tattooing and homosexuality.
Prior to incarceration most prison inmates engage in risky
sexual practices such as unprotected sex with multiple partners,
transactional sex, drug abuse, sex in exchange for drugs, sexual
abuse, homosexuality and impaired judgment from drug
intoxication.
Concerning the existence of HIV/AIDS and risky sexual
behavior in a prison environment, many believed that HIV
existed in prisons. The predominant risky sexual practices
mentioned being responsible for transmission in prison were
lesbianism, oral sex, masturbation and homosexuality. These are
practices that people engage in either before imprisonment or
while in prison. There are inmates who have anal sex with
others, and in return, they provide soap and slippers for those
who accept. However, there is intense societal pressure from
both the prison authority and the inmates on those practicing
same sexual intercourse because the act of a man having sex
with man is regarded as a taboo by the government and prison
authority in many countries.
These cases had been attested by those who were charged and

3. sentenced to prison when they were HIV negative only to be
released from prison while HIV positive. They provide evidence
and are a living testimony of the drug abuse, homosexuality,
sharing of needles and sex that eventually led to them being
infected with the deadly HIV.
Indeed evidence has been provided to prove that HIV in
correctional facilities not only affects the inmates but also the
officers who operate in these facilities. A variety of studies on
these facilities suggest that ignorance and lack of awareness of
the manner in which the virus is transmitted from one person to
the other has contributed to the high number of HIV infections,
specifically among the prison inmates. Increased infection rates
may lead to a weak correction system that only promotes the
spread of communicable illnesses, hence deviating from its core
objective of rehabilitation and providing to the society the
skillful, healthy and strong individuals who can contribute to
the development as well as economic growth of the country.
Indeed, HIV and AIDS is a major issue of concern within
correctional facilities and measures need to be taken to improve
the situation (Hensley 2002).
Recommendations
The following are the suggested improvements and how they
would be implemented in order to reduce the high rate of HIV
transmission among prison inmates and the risks associated with
it.
Mandatory testing of inmates
All inmates should be tested because of the following major
reasons:
· Through mass screening, correctional administrators can target
education and prevention programs.
· Through this policy, correctional staff would provide
appropriate supervision in order to reduce the transmission risks
to other inmates.
· Mandatory testing of inmates would see the staff ensure that
infected inmates receive the appropriate medical attention.
Indeed, knowledge of those infected with the HIV will help

4. prison officers take extra precautions with HIV infected
individuals to reduce transmission to the other inmates
(Hensley, 2002).
Segregation of the inmates who are HIV positive
The same arguments used to promote mandatory screening are
used by the proponents of the segregation approach. The
proponents assert that supervision is enhanced and that
segregation protects inmates from homosexual relationships and
sexual attacks (Whitehead, Jones & Braswell, 2010).
However, mandatory testing of inmates and segregation has
remained controversial over the years as critics assert that
prisons will be burdened with great financial problems. The
critics of segregation point out that such a practice would
convey the incorrect public health message concerning the risks
and transmission of HIV. They also argue that it would subject
inmates to harassment and discrimination. Also, other
opponents contend that segregation of HIV infected inmates will
make prisoners have a false sense of safety since all the inmates
infected with the HIV may not be identified through testing.
They also assert that HIV segregated inmates are more often
than not, denied opportunities to participate in work and
educational programs that may see them have early release. In
addition, critics contend that the officers in correctional
facilities will be unable to remember the entire inmate
identified with HIV in correctional systems with large numbers
of inmates who are infected.
In response to this, the alternative of identifying all inmates
have been infected by the HIV relies on the knowledge and
wisdom of the universal precautions. Under universal
precautions, all inmates are treated as if they are HIV infected.
Individuals are, therefore, encouraged to avoid any unprotected
contact with body fluids that are infectious such as blood and
semen.
Prevention measures such as bleach and condom availability can
be adopted in prison systems. This would see correctional
systems make condoms and bleach available to inmates.

5. Correctional institutions should implement universal
precautions among all those dealing with inmates. Correctional
systems officials should, therefore, receive appropriate and
adequate education and training on matters of HIV transmission.
Prisoners should be provided with counseling and written HIV
educational materials regardless of their HIV status. There
should be established educational and prevention programs
which include information about the transmission of HIV and
the risk of HIV transmission. Programs that will help to
empower inmates and decrease their vulnerability to abuse, drug
use and HIV infection must also be put in place.
In addition, external community based AIDS organizations or
prisoner organizations that provide services and education to
people infected with HIV and AIDS should be encouraged to
provide such services to correctional facilities. Inmates infected
with HIV should be encouraged to build links with the outside
world, especially with HIV and AIDS service and healthcare
organizations.
Nevertheless, institutional corrections administrators must act
to provide a safe and orderly environment for all the offenders
under their care. Offenders found to be HIV positive during
incarceration should be informed of their status, and medical
counseling should be provided to them.
Early release
Prisoners who have entered the later stages of terminal illnesses
such as HIV and AIDS require specialized end-of-life care. For
this reason, correction systems should introduce compassionate
release programs to allow those inmates infected with HIV and
AIDS to be released from correction facilities earlier in their
sentence. These inmates should regularly be released earlier in
the cause of their disease, prior to them being terminally ill.
Early release ensures that the life expectancy of the terminally
ill inmates is lengthened as a result of receiving care in the
community. Also, the release reduces the rate of HIV infections
among inmates. This is because those infected are excluded
from the correctional facilities and the risks of infections are,

6. therefore, reduced in this manner. They are thereafter
encouraged to have a healthy lifestyle and follow the
prescription of the HIV drugs that are provided for to them by
health centers in the community. The inmates that are within the
prison walls are encouraged to use protective measures such as
condoms and bleaches if they have to necessarily engage in
sexual behaviors. In many correctional institutions, engaging in
sexual behaviors is discouraged. These include acts such as
homosexuality and masturbation. However, some correctional
facilities are considering legalizing masturbation in prisons in
order to reduce the cases of homosexuality and ultimately the
transmission of HIV to the other prison inmates (DIANE, 1995).
Effect of HIV and AIDS among prison inmates on criminal
investigation
The investigation departments are experiencing serious
problems that prevent them from responding promptly to
criminal investigation. Due to the increased number of infected
inmates who regularly require medical attention, criminal
investigation departments are taking too long to investigate
thoroughly and handle the prosecution of inmates. In cases
where inmates sentenced for life imprisonment are found to be
HIV positive, their early release may dampen the morale of
criminal investigators who may, in turn, not respond promptly
to crimes.
Also, the spread of HIV and AIDS among inmates have
encouraged increased crime within the correctional facilities as
some of the inmates are engaged in homosexuality, rapes and
drug abuse as a way of avenging their infection of HIV. This
has resulted in deaths within the prison walls which warrant for
investigation on the cause of death.
However, with the prevention measures and education programs
aimed at minimizing the rate of HIV infections in the prison
inmates, criminal investigation may be effective in the sense
that those prosecuted are mandated to serve their full sentence
without early release. Cases of rape, homosexuality, drug abuse
and death within the correctional facilities may also be reduced

7. due to the reduced rate of HIV transmission rates among the
inmates in prisons.
In addition, overcrowding in prisons is reduced by allowing
early release to those inmates who are infected with the HIV.
This makes criminal investigation effective as there is enough
room in correctional facilities to accommodate those engaged in
crime and have been charged.
Conclusion
Studies aimed at addressing the issue of HIV and AIDS in
prisons have demonstrated the importance and value of coming
up with policies and programs that are consistent with the
standards of human right. Undoubtedly, the protection and
fulfillment of human rights, inclusive of the counter measures
against the negative effects of HIV related discrimination, is a
key element in improving the effective and ethical response to
the issue of HIV and AIDS in correctional facilities.
Reference
Hensley, C. (2002). Prison sex: Practice and policy. Lynne
Rienner Publishers.
Whitehead, J., Jones, M., & Braswell, M. (2010). Exploring
corrections in America. Elsevier.
DIANE (1995). Hiv/aids in prisons: Final report of the expert
committee on aids and prisons - canada. DIANE Publishing.
Møller, L., Gatherer, A., Jürgens, R., Stöver, H., & Nikogosian,
H. (2007). Health in prisons: A who guide to the essentials in
prison health. WHO Regional Office Europe.
Schmalleger, F., & Smykla, J. (2012). Corrections in the 21st
century. (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.