HIV Education Offered to Jail Inmates

May 19, 2009
Contact: Elise Schaffer, PIO Phone: (608) 284-6142 Email: schaffer@co.dane.wi.us
Sheriff's Office

According to the Journal of Urban Health, the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in correctional facilities is much higher than in the general population. Sheriff David Mahoney is offering inmates of the Dane County Jail a rare opportunity to become educated on HIV prevention and treatment. Bob Bowers, an activist and educator, is offering free educational presentations to jail inmates in Dane County. Bob is someone who has lived with HIV for over 20 years, and works passionately to improve the lives of those around him. The mission of his organization, HIVictorious, is to strive to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in Wisconsin and throughout the United States through education, advocacy, and community mobilization. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to be able to offer such an important program to the inmate population. By improving the health and lives of our inmate population, ultimately, everyone wins. In 2006, Correctional Health Care completed a cost-effectiveness analysis on HIV counseling and testing to soon-to-be released inmates. The study found that offering counseling and testing would save society over $550,000. To learn more about Bob Bowers and HIVictorious, visit his website at www.hivictorious.org.