The rates of HIV, STDs, Hepatitis and TB are higher for the incarcerated than in the general U.S. population.
Injection drug use, unprotected sex and tattooing have been noted to occur in correctional settings and continue to place this population at increased risk. Funding for and implementation of STD screening programs and other prevention services for inmates remains spotty and requires collaboration between the population being served, corrections staff, public health and community-based service organizations.
In response to this pertinent public health issue, NCSD has established a Corrections Task Force to enhance the level and quality of STD/HIV and viral hepatitis services provided by correctional settings. The task force is comprised of health department, CDC, correctional facilities, and public health association staff.
Corrections Resources:
Managing STDs in the Correctional Setting: A Guide for Clinicians