Alabama Corrections Chief Denies ACLU Allegations About Prison HIV Policy

Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Kim T. Thomas on Thursday responded to claims that the prison system discriminates against prisoners with HIV/AIDS. Earlier this week, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of 10 HIV-positive prisoners alleging the state policy of separating infected inmates excludes them from programs and services available to other prisoners. "While this department has a policy of not commenting on matters in litigation, it looks forward to zealously defending against what, by all accounts, are false and misinformed allegations that regrettably ignore this department's important obligations to provide health care, prevent the transmission of [STDs], and manage the prison population in such a way to ensure the safety of that population, departmental staff, and the public at large," Thomas said in a prepared statement.

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