HIV & Louisiana Parish Jails A distressing example of the intersections of marginalized identities and risk for HIV is present in the state of Louisiana. Louisiana has the highest rates of incarceration in the country, with roughly 1 in 75 adults in jail or prison (Human Rights Watch 1). Local AIDS service providers estimated that between a quarter to one half of their clients have been in jail at some point (1). The vast overlap between jail populations and populations of HIV-positive people in Louisiana can be attributed to their shared socioeconomic factors, including poverty, homelessness, drug abuse, and mental illness (Human Rights Watch 2). These factors place individuals in more high risk situations, while their susceptibility is increased by lack of access to adequate health care. Despite the reality in Louisiana, only five of 104 parish (county) jails regularly offer HIV testing. Others offer testing when requested, or when a prisoner appears ill. Louisiana parish jails continue to deny access to testing to many inmates, despite the Center for Disease Control recommendation that all correctional facilities provide routine HIV testing (Human Rights Watch …show more content…
The distribution and availability of government funds for use by medical care in prisoners, however, can be attributed to federal policy frameworks. Federal funds and programs for people living with HIV are not available to the state or local prisoners, such as inmates of Louisiana parish jails. For example, Medicaid does not cover people who are incarcerated. Several other charity and health insurance programs are also limited or unavailable for people in correctional facilities (Human Rights Watch