At the same time many states and municipalities are reluctant to distribute condoms in prisons, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca may expand an eight-year-old program at Men's Central Jail that distributes condoms in a unit for gay men, the Los Angeles Times reports.
"The nonprofit Center for Health Justice has been visiting the jail almost weekly since 2001, when Baca approved a small but groundbreaking program that allowed the health group to pass out prophylactics to inmates in a segregated unit for gay men. [The Center] has distributed more than 43,655 condoms to inmates since the project began, but said that is not nearly enough. ... The sheriff is pondering whether to expand it by doubling the number of condoms distributed to the 300 inmates within the segregated unit. It would be one of the most aggressive measures in the nation's jails and prisons to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, experts say."
LA County Sheriff officials say about 65 new HIV cases are detected each month. On average "there are about 1,400 people in L.A. County jails with HIV each year" and the health cost is about $2 million per year.
Currently, only several jails in the United States—including some in San Francisco, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.—offer condoms to inmates. Condoms are also available to prisoners in Vermont. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) has sponsored legislation that would require condoms in federal prisons.
It's a wise move if you ask me to make it a law for it to be expanded to all federal prisons. However, that bill will have a hell of an uphill battle in Congress to be passed as law.
Also this issue will continue to
be a major problem with transmission of STIs in other states where the officials doesn't want or care to make such socially progressive stances on prisoners. I just wish there was a way for this to be made into law nationwide on all levels, but that is truly wishful thinking in this political climate.
Posted by: kayman | 30 June 2009 at 16:07
It's ridiculous for prisons to think that not allowing condoms prevents male to male sex from occurring. They know its going on all the time and the correctional officers turn the heads or condone sex. The prisons should be concerned about preventing an epidemic from taking place rather than appearances. But on the other hand, many inmates are beyond caring about using condoms. I recall watching a documentary about prisons and an inmate said that inmates don't choose to have sex but rather it gets chosen for you. He described how someone was overpowered by other inmates and knocked unconscious. When the guy was found, he had most of his teeth knocked out and semen was dripping out of his mouth and a$$. It was his welcome to prison bash. The bottom line is that sex will occur no matter what. At least, every attempt should be made to prevent the spread of STDs.
Posted by: Ravenback | 30 June 2009 at 16:44
This is a step up to acknowledge the reality of sex behind bars.
Since officials can't stop it, they may as well give people protection.
Posted by: Anthony in Nashville | 30 June 2009 at 17:09
This is a welcome step forward. Yes, as Ravenback said, a lot of prison sex is rape and condoms probably won't help that much. But, what is often not said, is that a lot of prison sex is consensual, perhaps the majority.
I've heard of guys who were first able to explore their gay or bi side because of their circumstances in lock up. Basically, it gave them an excuse to explore what they always wanted to do on the outside. In such circumstances, a condom could truly be life saving tool. Still, let's prepare for the right wing backlash. I can hear Bill O'Reilly now.
Posted by: mjolnir202 | 30 June 2009 at 22:04