Before this week, prisoners in Alabama living with HIV were categorically excluded from a host of rehabilitative, educational, trade skills and vocational programs. They were housed in HIV-only dormitories and all male prisoners with HIV were required to wear a white arm band at all times. All that ended this week when a federal judge issued a permanent injunction order the state to abandon these discriminatory practices.
The decision came as a result of a class-action lawsuit by the ACLU. The testimonies from state officials during a month long trial clearly demonstrate that the policies were based on prejudice, not science. Read more about the case here.
Because of the ACLU’s work, Alabama prisoners like Albert Knox will no longer have to suffer unjust disciplinary action for simply eating lunch with a non-positive prisoner. This ruling leaves South Carolina as the sole state to engage in these useless practices. It’s a shame that any state in 2012 would treat their prisoners this way. The ACLU will not stop until all 50 states have been rid of these harmful practices.