A.I.D.S. Campaign For Prisons 'educational’ (Press, 30 May 1987)

A campaign initiated by the Justice Department aims to curb the spread of A.I.D.S. in New Zealand prisons, but it will not address the distribution of condoms, as this could be perceived as legitimising both homosexual and heterosexual acts during visits, according to Acting Secretary for Justice, Mr Mel Smith. The focus of the campaign is educational, with the goal of treating all inmates as potentially infectious and implementing necessary precautions. As part of the initiative, a graphic and explicit A.I.D.S. educational video will be shown to both prison staff and inmates. This is complemented by training and educational sessions that have already begun across prison institutions. However, the department clarified that prisoners will not be routinely tested for A.I.D.S., though blood tests for other diseases such as hepatitis B are standard. The hepatitis B test alone is deemed insufficient for A.I.D.S. testing. Mr Smith also noted that there have been no known cases of A.I.D.S. reported in New Zealand prisons. He asserted the importance of ensuring inmates are properly educated about A.I.D.S., particularly due to behaviours like sharing razor blades that could increase the risk of transmission. Inmates who wish to be tested for the virus have the option to approach prison staff for assistance.

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