Alabama Prison Last That Still Completely Segregates HIV Inmates

Alabama's Julia Tutwiler Prison in Wetumpka is the nation's last prison that completely segregates HIV-positive inmates from other prisoners. Its 13 HIV-infected women are confined to Dorm 8, where they are barred from taking the vocational classes that are available to thousands of other state prisoners.

With its TV, DVD player, telephones, microwave, books and computer, Dorm 8 is a far cry from the deteriorating shanty on prison grounds that used to house the HIV-positive inmates. The residents of Dorm 8 have access to a range of classes, including courses on high school equivalency, anger management and parenting. But they do not know why they, unlike women in the general prison population, cannot take cosmetology, welding, mechanics or other job-training classes offered at a nearby vocational school.

In January, at the Limestone men's prison in Capshaw, Alabama integrated its male HIV-positive inmates into regular education and vocational programs. Department of Corrections Commissioner Donal Campbell said he supports integrating the women with HIV into the programs, but this is not a priority. Limestone's 200 HIV-positive inmates were integrated into the programs first, he said, because that prison's structure makes it easier to move inmates to classes safely.

Officials cited safety concerns about integrating the women, as well as concerns about disease transmission. While some of the women in Dorm 8 admit they have had sex with others in the unit, they say they would never do so among the general population. They also said they do not think harassment in the general population would be any worse that what some suffered outside prison. The women of Dorm 8 have launched an HIV/AIDS awareness newsletter to educate inmates outside their unit about life with the virus.

Back to other news for March 17, 2004