In more than 30 U.S. states, there are laws that impose criminal penalties on people living with HIV who potentially expose others to HIV. On May 1, Iowa became one of the first to revise its statutes since the criminal laws were implemented by states in the early 1990s. The Iowa’s Senate File 2297 creates a tiered sentencing system depending on intent, actual risk of transmission, and whether transmission occurred. The bill also eliminates the sex offender registration requirement for future defendants and those previously convicted under the current law.
Through the multidisciplinary Criminalization of HIV Non-Disclosure, Exposure and Transmission Working Group, CIRA continues to engage in discussions and research examining critical public health, ethical, and legal issues around criminalization. One of the key partners of the working group is the Center for HIV Law and Policy that has published a statement in response to the Iowa bill and provided an analysis of the legislation.
Published: Monday, May 5, 2014
