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Once Again, Guilty of Having HIV

By Real Cost of Prisons Project (The Sentencing Project)

Once Again, Guilty of Having HIV posted 2009-07-09 by Cynthia Fernandez CHLP Intern Last week, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported a case of a young woman arrested for prostitution in Knoxville, Tennessee, who faces a three-to-fifteen-year prison term for ?aggravated prostitution? solely because she is HIV-positive. While individuals convicted of prostitution in Tennessee who do not have HIV face misdemeanor charges that usually amount to a fine and probation, those living with HIV face a felony charge and an additional three to fifteen years due to their health status. Because the woman is a repeat offender, she will also have to register as a sex offender and will face the same restrictions as child molesters and rapists. State officials cite public health and safety as the rationale for the aggravated prostitution law, but their efforts are severely misguided...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog on July 10, 2009 (boomark / email).