Cases of HIV Among Inmates in Indiana State Prisons are Leveling Off

The occurrence of HIV among inmates in Indiana prisons has leveled off, though it still remains about 10 times higher than the known incidence of HIV in the state's overall population. There are an estimated 215 people in Indiana prisons this year with HIV. Department of Correction officials said that roughly 1 percent, or 21,507 people, in Indiana prisons are HIV-positive. The percentage of HIV-positive inmates in Indiana is well below the national average of 2.1 percent. A Bureau of Justice Statistics report issued in July showed that while the number of HIV cases in US prisons has increased, the number of HIV-positive prisoners has grown at a slower rate than the overall prison population. Prison and health experts attribute the trend to increased awareness of the disease and improved treatment.

"Overall the last 10 years we've gone from not knowing, not caring, to people knowing a lot about HIV and people actually caring about the kind of care they provide," said Anne DeGroot, editor of Brown University's HIV and Hepatitis Education Prison Project. "There's been sort of an awakening of physicians in the facilities, and that's what's making the change." Still, health experts and advocates for AIDS patients express concern about maintaining the safety of prisoners living with the disease and preparing them for release to society. They believe more awareness and education are needed.

HIV-positive inmates receive medical treatment at Indiana prisons through the Prison Health Services, the private company under contract with the state to provide health care for all inmates. HIV-positive inmates are also counseled upon entering and leaving any state prison. Upon intake, inmates receive information on ways to avoid the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases such as hepatitis and TB. Caseworkers at the Damien Center, an Indianapolis AIDS service organization, said the Department of Correction doesn't have enough staff to provide the needed pre-release counseling. For many inmates, living with HIV or AIDS after their release isn't a big priority. "They're more concerned about, 'Where am I going to sleep? Where am I going to eat?'" said Damien caseworker Sheryl Phillips.

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