HIV Criminalization and Black Americans
In the United States, HIV criminalization intersects two overlapping epidemics: the HIV epidemic and the epidemic of over-policing and mass incarceration. Both epidemics disproportionately affect Black Americans, as does HIV criminalization. Black people in the United States are more likely to be diagnosed and live with HIV while also having less access to HIV treatment and prevention. Black Americans also experience greater police surveillance and harsher punishment in the criminal legal system. Together, these twin epidemics place Black people in the U.S. living with HIV at increased risk of criminal legal system involvement because of both their race and HIV status. In this brief, the Williams Institute presents information on the racial dynamics of America’s HIV epidemic and criminal legal system, followed by an examination of racial patterns from Williams Institute reports on HIV criminalization.
The impact of criminalization of HIV non-disclosure on the healthcare engagement of women living with HIV in Canada: A comprehensive review of the evidence
Concludes that HIV-related criminal laws either fail to influence or increase STI testing avoidance, unprotected anonymous sexual contacts, and avoidance of health care because respondents do not feel safe speaking with health professionals. Suggests HIV-related criminal laws compromise public health and clinicians’ abilities to establish therapeutic relationships and to undertake HIV prevention and treatment work.