Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

SACRAMENTO - Public health agencies and nonprofits would begin distributing condoms to California prison inmates under a bill sent this week to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a measure modeled after similar programs in other states and cities.

Democrats who support the effort said making condoms available will help control the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

"Everyone knows that sex happens in prison, and short of solitary confinement for all ... inmates, the state is unable to prevent it," Assemblyman Paul Koretz, D-West Hollywood, said in a statement.

Various studies put the incidence of homosexual activity inside prisons at between 30 percent and 60 percent of male inmates, while the rate of HIV infection is at least five times that of the outside population, Koretz said.

Critics say the spread of sexual diseases could be prevented by enforcing state law, which bans sex between inmates. Republicans who oppose the bill said distributing condoms in prisons will only encourage sex between male inmates.

Sen. Charles Poochigian, R-Fresno, said the bill "sends entirely the wrong message."

"Prisons are to punish criminals. They shouldn't be sanctioning activities that are illicit," said Poochigian, who is running for state attorney general.

Instead, Poochigian said state prisons should clamp down on prison gang activity, which encourages sexual acts between inmates.

The bill's opponents also said inmates could use condoms as weapons or as devices to hide illegal drugs.

California prisons have an average of 1,240 inmates infected with HIV/AIDS, costing the department more than $18 million a year in health care, according 2003-2004 data provided by the state Department of Corrections.

Condoms are available in prisons in Vermont and Mississippi, as well as in jails in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia and the District of Columbia, according to research by Koretz's office.

Australia, Canada, most of the European Union and parts of Latin America also allow condoms to be distributed in prison, according to the Koretz research, which was compiled from AIDS foundations and academic studies.

The Senate approved the bill Thursday 22-16 along party lines.

A Schwarzenegger spokesman said the governor had not taken a position on the bill.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

Absolutely. I can't even imagine why not.

I will never understand the conservative hypothesis that giving out condoms encourges sexual activity. I don't buy it for HS students and I definitely don't buy it for prisoners, who are adults. If it can curb the spread of HIV and other STDs, then it's a definite win-win. Not that you can enforce people using condoms, but if they can slow the spread of AIDS is makes is safer for the prisoners, and all of the prison guards, doctors, nurses, etc, everyone who interacts with the prisoners who may be violent and bite, or have bloody fights with one another, etc.

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

YES!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

i dont really know how i feel about this. I just cant imagine them actually using condoms so I am not sure how worthwhile the program would be......

I guess I wouldnt be opposed to distributing them but i dont think that prisoners should be having sex in prison and not that this encourages it but it does send a message that it's okay. When prisoners are then caught in the act and punished wouldnt the response be "well what did you think we were going to do with the condoms?". Something with it is just not sitting right with me. It's like giving them a crack pipe but then being upset when they use it to smoke crack....

This article was a real eye opener though - 30-60% engage in homosexual sex while in prison!!!!

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

Yes...whether they should or should not have sex in prision is one thing, but to distribute condoms is helpping those on the outside of the walls as well.

When prisoners have served their time and come back into the working force and live their lives, they could be putting other people at danger w/STD's that they could have caught inside.

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

bottom line is- these prisoners- who will come out of jail - can spread hiv to others

we need to prevent that.

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Message edited 10/4/2006 11:49:18 PM.

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

Yes.

Not all of the sex that occurs in prisons is consensual, and better that they are protected from STD's.

They'll probably be having sex when they get out of jail- so I think it serves to protect the general population, too.

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

I think it absolutely should be!

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

I understand concerns about the progra but if it prevents one person from contracting HIV (which probably in the long run would prevent lots of people from getting it), then it's a worthwhile program

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

Do you think a rapist cares when he rapes someone whether or not to put a condom on? So why would someone in jail think about it, they do the same thing. I agree with suvenR, you need to focus more on prevention then whether they should be distributing condoms.

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

Yes! why not? If it prevents even one person from getting HIV then it is worth it.

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed

Re: Prison Condom Bil-Should It Be Passed