HIV/AIDS AND HISPANICS/LATINOS: PRISON AND RE-ENTRY

The Facts: There are more Latinos/Hispanics in jail than in college dorms.

• It has been estimated that between 17 and 25 percent of people living with HIV in America pass through the correctional system.
• During 2008, a total of 24 states reported testing all inmates for HIV at admission or sometime during custody. Among these 24 states, 23 tested prisoners at admission, 5 tested while in custody, and 6 tested upon release.
• 25% of the incarcerated population is Latino
• Several studies suggest that between one third and one half of these persons are not aware of their HIV status
• In total, Hispanic/Latinos accounted for 25 per cent of known prison HIV/AIDS cases in 2004

What is being done?
In 2009, the Stop AIDS in Prisons comprehensive policy to provide HIV testing, treatment, and prevention for inmates within the correctional setting and upon re-entry.

How can we help?

• Educating incarcerated individuals about HIV can help keep the disease from spreading further, both inside and outside the prisons, and have a large impact on the Latino community and American society as a whole.
• Try to link offenders to care by making connections with community based organizations that can offer support upon return to our communities.
• Advocate for condom distribution in prisons

Want to learn more?

The following is a site that offers in depth information about services offered to members of the re-entry community:    www.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org

For more information regarding specific states, please refer to the following document:
http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/hivp08.pdf

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