Targeting Minority Needs

A new law aimed at boosting HIV prevention efforts that target African-Americans in Illinois, particularly blacks in the state's jails and prisons, will take effect January 1. Called the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Act, the measure will require all state and county prisons to offer free HIV antibody tests to all inmates as well as case management and referral services to released prisoners. The law also requires HIV antibody tests to be offered in state offices, such as driver's license stations and public aid offices, in areas of Chicago with large African-American populations. Blacks account for 15% of Illinois's population but make up 51% of the state's HIV cases. Blacks also account for 65% of all state prisoners.