New Zealand: Prisoners Get Condoms and Needle Cleaner

Prisoners in New Zealand are being given condoms and bleach to clean needles, despite sex and drug use being prohibited in jail. It is understood that medical staff are giving prisoners condoms and that they also have access to bleach. Prison regulations prohibit sex between inmates, and drug use is a serious offense that can result in the delay of parole and criminal charges. Though the distribution is not officially condoned, it is seen by some staff as a sensible harm reduction measure.

Earlier this year, the Corrections Department and Health Ministry recommended that harm reduction programs -- including condoms and clean needles -- be introduced to prisons to help protect people from STDs and other diseases such as tuberculosis. The government has approved a trial program to test prisoners for infectious diseases such as TB, hepatitis and HIV.

AIDS Foundation Executive Director Kevin Hague said a proper harm reduction program was needed. "At the moment we've got an ad hoc arrangement in some prisons where some staff can see the huge problems with the current policy to the extent they are prepared to put their jobs at risk to protect inmates," Hague said.

Corrections Association spokesperson Brian Davies said condoms were handed out by medical staff though there was no official protocol. He had not heard of bleach being provided. Though not condoned, Davies said the use of condoms is sensible given how rife hepatitis is in prisons. It was not the union's position to moralize on the personal habits of prisoners, but it would support the introduction of any harm reduction programs that would stop the spread of disease. This did not include the introduction of clean needles, however, because drug use is illegal.

Corrections Policy Development General Manager Jared Mullen said as yet there is no official policy on condoms or clean needles. A spokesperson for Corrections Minister Mark Gosche said he would not comment until he was brought up to speed on the issue.

Back to other CDC news for September 24, 2002

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