Reports on a survey of MSM in 16 US states, finding that HIV criminal laws have little or counter-productive effects on MSM’s risk behavior.
How HIV Criminalisation Undermines the HIV Response
Does not increase safer sex
Research in numerous countries has considered whether HIV-related laws and awareness of those laws decreases HIV transmission risk. Research has consistently shown that HIV-related laws have either no impact or negatively impact safer sex practices.
Do criminal laws influence HIV risk behaviour? An empirical trial
Found that people who believed the law required safer sex or disclosure reported being just as risky in their sexual behaviour as those who did not. Most believed it was wrong to expose others to HIV and right to disclose their HIV positive status to their sexual partners. Those beliefs were not influenced by understanding of the law or whether they lived in a state with such a law or not.
Men who have sex with men who believe that their state has a HIV criminal law report higher condomless anal sex than those who are unsure of the law in their state
Found very little variation in the sexual behaviour of gay men living in states with or without HIV specific criminal laws, suggesting legislation has a minimal impact on sexual behaviours. In fact, men who believed they lived in a state with such laws were slightly more likely to have sex without a condom, possible due to a false sense of security – expecting disclosure or protection from the law.
Association of HIV diagnosis rates and laws criminalizing HIV exposure in the United States
This study assessed the relationship between HIV and AIDS diagnosis data from the (US) National HIV Surveillance System and the presence of a state criminal exposure law by using generalized estimating equations. It found no association between HIV or AIDS diagnosis rates and criminal exposure laws across states over time, suggesting that these laws have had no detectable HIV prevention effect.
New Jersey’s HIV Exposure Law and the HIV-Related Attitudes, Beliefs, and Sexual and Seropositive Status Disclosure Behaviors of Persons Living With HIV
Explored associations between awareness of New Jersey’s HIV exposure law and the HIV-related attitudes, beliefs, and sexual and seropositive status disclosure behaviors of HIV-positive persons. Found criminalising nondisclosure of HIV serostatus did not reduce sexual risk behaviour.
Narratives of HIV: measuring understanding of HIV and the law in HIV-positive patients
Found PLHIV’s understanding of legal obligations about HIV risk behaviours was poor and patchy, with behavioural restrictions often overstated. PLHIV remain at risk of prosecution through poor understanding of the law.
HIV disclosure as practice and public policy
Found that the increasing criminalization of HIV non-disclosure does not address the complexity of HIV transmission, making it unlikely to reduce HIV transmission.