Inmates are at exceptional risk for infection with HIV/AIDS.
 
Basic HIV prevention measures, such as condoms and lubricant, are either not available to inmates or are not easily accessible, and needle exchange programs have not been implemented in Canadian prisons.

Even before entering correctional institutions, inmates are more susceptible to infection than the general population. Inmates often come from economic and social backgrounds where proper education, prevention and treatment are lacking.

In Canada, the number of known cases of HIV in the federal prison system increased by over 35% in the four years between 1996 to 2000. Various studies indicate that inmates are 6 times to 70 times more likely to be living with HIV than any other Canadian.

For more information on HIV/AIDS and prisons, check out our Briefing Documents and our Links.