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Review
. 2025 May 6;22(1):33.
doi: 10.1007/s11904-025-00737-0.

Enhancing HIV Prevention Efforts in the Criminal Legal System: A Comprehensive Review and Recommendations

Karen A Johnson  1 , Alexander J Perkins  2 , Charity Obuya  2 , Sherron K Wilkes  2
Affiliations
Review

Enhancing HIV Prevention Efforts in the Criminal Legal System: A Comprehensive Review and Recommendations

Karen A Johnson et al. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. .

Abstract

Background: Despite encouraging declines in the overall rate of new transmission globally, HIV prevention efforts targeting individuals in the criminal legal system continue to significantly lag behind rates identified in the general population. Prevention efforts targeting this group worldwide remain geographically uneven and differ across the continuum of legal system involvement (diversion, arrests, community supervision, and post-release), which is attributed to social, structural, and systemic barriers. These gaps are noted to disproportionately impact minoritized and other transmission-burdened populations within the criminal legal system (e.g., men who have sex with men).

Objective: Given these challenges, this literature review examines HIV prevention efforts targeting individuals in the criminal legal system across the globe.

Methods: This review identifies current reach and gaps in prevention care and proposes strategies for improvement.

Results: Recommendations include updating and utilizing long-term platforms for sustained HIV prevention interventions, developing a global compendium for regions outside the U.S., enhancing targeted interventions in high-risk areas, and integrating HIV prevention with other health services while addressing stigma.

Conclusions: These actions are critical for ensuring that interventions remain up-to-date, sustainable, and culturally responsive, effectively addressing the unique needs of diverse populations and criminal legal system contexts. These measures are also vital for meeting the U.N. 95-95-95 targets for HIV testing, treatment, and viral suppression, ultimately contributing to the goal of ending the HIV epidemic among this high-need population.

Keywords: Criminal legal system; Global health disparities; HIV prevention; Social and structural barriers.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent: This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors. Competing Interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
HIV Prevention Interventions in the CDC Compendium for People in the Criminal Legal System
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
HIV prevention and intervention practices utilized with individuals in the criminal legal system
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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