State officials say they'll no longer segregate HIV-positive prison inmates from the general population.
Department of Corrections Commissioner Kim Thomas told AL.com (http://bit.ly/13gjOlc) Wednesday that the department has stopped segregating inmates at the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women and plans to do the same with male inmates in 2014.
The shift comes after HIV-positive inmates sued in 2011 saying the policy violated their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The case went to trial last fall and a U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of the inmates.
According to court documents, the Department of Corrections will keep identities of HIV-positive prisoners confidential and will have a zero-tolerance policy for threats or abuse directed toward the inmates.
Mandatory staff and inmate HIV education sessions will also be required.
