Mississippi, Vermont Give Condoms to Married Inmates

Mississippi and Vermont are the only states in the nation to give condoms to inmates. While Mississippi's policy applies only to conjugal visits, it was cited by a California lawmaker who wants his state to become the third to distribute condoms in order to stem HIV's spread among inmates. Jail systems in some large cities such as New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., also distribute condoms.

"The big complaint [from lawmakers] was that people in prison were starting families," said Bennett Malone (D-Carthage), chairperson of California's House Corrections Committee. "Automatically they [the children] go on welfare and Medicaid. If we stop one or two we've done quite a bit."

The California bill would allow nonprofit and public health care agencies to distribute condoms to help lower the HIV infection rate. California now houses 162,000 prisoners, who are at high risk for HIV, said Assemblymember Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood), who introduced the bill that recently passed the Assembly and awaits Senate action.

Mississippi began distributing condoms for use during conjugal visits to married inmates at three state prisons in 1992. However, condoms are not provided to curb HIV rates within prisons. "We keep HIV[-positive] offenders separate," said Mississippi Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps. Of some 20,000 prisoners housed by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, 738 receive condoms.

Vermont began its policy 10 years ago to address the spread of HIV and other health issues, said John Perry, director of planning with the Vermont Department of Corrections. Inmates must request a condom, said Perry, adding, "I can't say if it is effective or not."

Koretz said the California bill would save money, since the average cost of caring for an HIV-infected patient once he leaves prison is $23,000 a year. The California Medical Association, the NAACP, health experts and other groups are among those who support Koretz's bill, he said.

Back to other news for June 16, 2005