Delaware
considers testing all prisoners for HIV

Lawmakers in Delaware this week introduced a bill that would require all prisoners in the state to be tested for tuberculosis, hepatitis, and HIV antibodies in an effort to identify inmates in need of medical treatment, The [Wilmington, Del.] News Journal reports. The proposal comes on the heels of a series of newspaper articles that revealed a high number of AIDS-related deaths in the state's jails, which also prompted the U.S. Department of Justice to launch an investigation into medical care offered in Delaware prisons. HIV testing is mandatory for all prisoners in 20 other states, and for sex offenders in 24 others. The Delaware bill was assigned to the state senate's adult and juvenile corrections committee. (The Advocate)