Recorded presentation

Paula P. Burns, MSH, Regional HIV/AIDS Office, Duval County Health Department, 900 University Blvd. North, Suite 209, Jacksonville, FL 32211, 904.665.2660, paula_burns@doh.state.fl.us and Priscilla H. Wood, BA, Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A09, Tallahassee, FL 32399.

Since 1999, the Florida Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections (DC) and local jail systems, has implemented HIV counseling, testing, education and linkage programs in every prison (67) and in eight jails; at least three more jail programs are being added in 2004. There are 2,818 women incarcerated in Florida prisons, up from 1,728 in 1997. Of these, 1,502 are white (53.3%) and 1,211 are black (43.8%); blacks continue to be over-represented in prisons and jails. Almost 40% of these women are drug offenders, who have an average sentence of 2.3 years. Many women are in their child-bearing years (average age = 35.5 years). The HIV rate is 5.1% in female prisons, compared to 3.7% of mails.

While less is known about women in Florida jails, it is estimated that 2.4% of people incarcerated in jails are HIV-infected; the rate for women is most likely twice to three times that rate. The HIV rate in women in the Palm Beach jail, for example, is 10.6%, the highest rate of the top fifty largest jails in the U.S.

This presentation will outline the programs that have been implemented in Florida for women, including a special three-year grant given to DC to implement an education and pre-release planning project for a women’s prison in North Florida; programs that provide in-jail services for HIV-infected pregnant women, and a statewide pre-release planning for all HIV-infected prisoners in DC facilities.

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