Incarcerated Populations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that, in 2010, the rate of HIV diagnoses among incarcerated populations in state, federal, and local correctional facilities was five times higher than the rate among people who were not incarcerated. Most incarcerated persons become infected with HIV in their communities rather than in corrections facilities.

The CDC has funded health departments to provide HIV prevention services in jails and prisons and community-based pilots to study effective interventions for incarcerated populations. Rural HIV/AIDS programs are reaching incarcerated populations by visiting corrections facilities and youth detention centers and providing education about HIV.

Resources to Learn More

HIV Among Incarcerated Populations in the United States
Document
Offers specific data related to incarcerated populations and HIV, discusses the challenges to HIV prevention, and describes how CDC is providing HIV prevention services in prisons and jails.
Organization(s): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Date: 2/2018

HIV Testing Implementation Guidance for Correctional Settings
Document
Focuses on the implementation of opt-out HIV testing in correctional settings.
Organization(s): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Date: 1/2009