Distribute condoms in prison Handing out condoms could greatly reduce the problem of venereal diseases and HIV/AIDS in prisons. <a href="http://ads.cluster01.oasis.zmh.zope.net/oasis/oasis/oasisc.php?s=1079&w=300&h=250&t=_top" target="_top"> <img src="http://ads.cluster01.oasis.zmh.zope.net/oasis/oasisi.php?s=1079&w=300&h=250&t=_top" border="0" width="300" height="250"> </a> A measure in Congress made little progress this year to allow condom access in federal prisons. According to the Associated Press, a bill in Illinois failed to clear a legislative committee in March. And a bill in California was vetoed last month by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said the proposal conflicted with prison regulations banning sexual activity. This is ignorance. Just because something is against the rules, doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. Some prison officials say that condoms can be used to conceal drugs. Some politicians say that condoms can encourage sex. No matter what anyone says, sex happens in prisons. Sometimes it’s consensual. Sometimes it’s not. Ignoring the issue will not make it go away. Providing condoms is not condoning sex, but it is recognizing that it does happen and trying to deal with the situation in the best way possible. Prisoners have lost many of their rights, but the right to remain healthy should not be one of them. While there is no data available on the number of HIV cases behind bars, the Centers for Disease Control did conduct a study in Georgia which found 856 male inmates — about 2 percent of the state’s total — were HIV-positive, and that 76 of them apparently got the virus while in prison. Locally, the Pendleton Correctional Facility does not distribute condoms. Indiana does not have a law requiring it to. That needs to change. Condoms do not have to be passed out to inmates as they walk in the door. But prisons should make them available — through the nurse or through vending machines. In Canada, Australia and much of Western Europe, condoms have been freely distributed to prisoners for years without security problems. Those countries understand the reality of the situation. It’s past the time for the U.S. to do the same.
Handing out condoms could greatly reduce the problem of venereal diseases and HIV/AIDS in prisons.
A measure in Congress made little progress this year to allow condom access in federal prisons. According to the Associated Press, a bill in Illinois failed to clear a legislative committee in March. And a bill in California was vetoed last month by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said the proposal conflicted with prison regulations banning sexual activity.
This is ignorance.
Just because something is against the rules, doesn’t mean it’s not going to happen. Some prison officials say that condoms can be used to conceal drugs. Some politicians say that condoms can encourage sex.
No matter what anyone says, sex happens in prisons. Sometimes it’s consensual. Sometimes it’s not.
Ignoring the issue will not make it go away. Providing condoms is not condoning sex, but it is recognizing that it does happen and trying to deal with the situation in the best way possible. Prisoners have lost many of their rights, but the right to remain healthy should not be one of them.
While there is no data available on the number of HIV cases behind bars, the Centers for Disease Control did conduct a study in Georgia which found 856 male inmates — about 2 percent of the state’s total — were HIV-positive, and that 76 of them apparently got the virus while in prison.
Locally, the Pendleton Correctional Facility does not distribute condoms. Indiana does not have a law requiring it to. That needs to change.
Condoms do not have to be passed out to inmates as they walk in the door. But prisons should make them available — through the nurse or through vending machines.
In Canada, Australia and much of Western Europe, condoms have been freely distributed to prisoners for years without security problems. Those countries understand the reality of the situation. It’s past the time for the U.S. to do the same.