SOP_NUMBER: 215.02
TITLE: Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers
REFERENCE_CODE: IID01-0005
DIVISION: Facilities Division (Transitional Centers)
TOPIC_AREA: 215 Policy - Transitional Center
EFFECTIVE_DATE: 2020-01-30
WORD_COUNT: 1059
POWERDMS_URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/106188
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/215.02/

SUMMARY:
This policy establishes the criteria and procedures for assigning HIV-positive offenders to Georgia Department of Corrections transitional centers. HIV-positive offenders may be referred to transitional centers if they meet general transitional center criteria, have not been segregated due to their HIV status, are medically cleared by a prison physician, and can maintain employment. The policy emphasizes confidentiality of medical information, requires HIV-positive residents to sign special conditions agreements, and mandates notification of spouses before passes or leave are granted.

KEY_TOPICS: HIV-positive offenders, transitional centers, medical clearance, work release, confidentiality, employment, HIV medication, infectious disease management, occupational exposure, bloodborne pathogens, medical clearance, residential placement, communicable disease

ATTACHMENTS:
  1. Special Conditions of Work Release for HIV-Infected Residents
     URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/215.02-att-1/

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FULL TEXT:
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|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers|**Policy Name:** Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers|**Policy Name:** Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers|
|**Policy Number:** 215.02|**Effective Date:** 1/30/2020|**Page Number:** 1 of 4|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner<br>|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division<br>(Transitional Centers)<br> <br>|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access<br>|



**I.** **Introduction and Summary:**

Offenders who have tested positive for the HIV Antibody may be considered for
referral to Transitional Centers, if they meet all criteria outlined in SOP 215.01, are
currently medically cleared, and have not been housed separately from any other
persons not infected with HIV for reasons defined in O.C.G.A. §42-5-52.1(e). This
policy assists the Centers in providing for the management of serious and infectious
diseases.


**II.** **Authority:**

A. O.C.G.A. § 42-5-52.1(e);


B. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs, 125-2-1-.01(d) and 125-4-4-.06;


C. GDC Standard Operating Procedures (SOP): 208.01 Management of Inmates

Diagnosed Positive for the HIV Antibody, 215.01 Transitional Center Selection
Criteria and Process, 507.03.14 Training for Health Care and Correctional
Personnel Regarding Communicable Diseases, 507.04.61 HIV Antibody Testing,
507.04.70 Infection Control Program, and 507.04.74 Exposure Control Plan:
Bloodborne Pathogens; and


D. ACA Standards: 4-ACRS-4C-08, 4-ACRS-4C-09 and 4-ACRS-4C-10.

**III.** **Definitions:** None.

**IV.** **Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:**

A. Offenders who have tested positive for the HIV Antibody may be considered for

referral to Transitional Centers.


1. Offenders must meet the following criteria:


a. Offenders must meet the criteria outlined in SOP 215.01, Transitional

Center Selection Criteria and Process;


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers|**Policy Name:** Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers|**Policy Name:** Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers|
|**Policy Number:** 215.02|**Effective Date:** 1/30/2020|**Page Number:** 2 of 4|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner<br>|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division<br>(Transitional Centers)<br> <br>|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access<br>|



b. Offenders who have been housed separately (segregated) from any other

persons not infected with HIV for reasons defined in O.C.G.A. § 42-552.1(e), will not be eligible for placement in a Transitional Center;

c. The prison physician must medically clear an offender prior to transfer to

a Transitional Center;

d. The primary criteria for medical clearance will be an inmate's physical

ability to maintain employment; and

e. Offenders that become symptomatic after being placed in a Transitional

Center and cannot maintain employment must be returned to a State
facility that is capable of meeting the existing medical need.

2. For those offenders on any HIV medication, a thirty (30) day supply of

medication must be forwarded with the offender to the Transitional Center;

B. It is the policy of GDC to maintain the confidentiality of offender medical record

information:

1. Such information will be released to parties outside the agency according to

established medical practices and legal requirements;

2. Information will be released to departmental personnel as necessary for them

to perform their official duties.

3. Upon assignment to a Transitional Center, all HIV- infected residents will

sign an agreement (Attachment 1, Special Conditions for Work Release for
HIV-Infected Residents) to have regular medical examinations by a physician
who is aware of their medical condition. The resident also agrees to other
special conditions;

4. Transitional Center staff will not require an HIV-infected offender to disclose

his/her medical condition to an employer or prospective employer, except in
cases where the nature of the employment poses a real and immediate
potential for injury to the person of the HIV-infected resident; and


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers|**Policy Name:** Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers|**Policy Name:** Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers|
|**Policy Number:** 215.02|**Effective Date:** 1/30/2020|**Page Number:** 3 of 4|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner<br>|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division<br>(Transitional Centers)<br> <br>|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access<br>|



5. It will not be deemed inappropriate for HIV-infected offenders to seek

employment in a high-risk industrial position. Employment in the
construction industry is not deemed to be high-risk employment for the
purposes of this policy.

C. Prior to taking any passes or leave, the HIV-infected offender will disclose

his/her medical condition to his/her spouse;

1. After notification, the spouse will contact the Transitional Center's health

care provider to indicate awareness of his/or her spouse's HIV-positive
condition;

2. The health care provider may inform the spouse of HIV awareness issues,

and/or may refer the spouse to the local Public Health Center for further
information and counseling. The HIV CARE Ryan White Part B Program
funds essential medical and supportive services for persons with the HIV
disease/AIDS and manages the Georgia AIDS Drug Assistance Program
(ADAP) and Health Insurance Continuation Program (HICP). The offender
may also be counseled and referred to the local Public Health Center;

3. If the resident desires, he/she may sign a release of the information

authorizing the health care provider to make arrangements to notify the
spouse;


4. The health care provider will either notify the spouse personally, or will

notify the local Public Health Department for follow-up; and

5. The health care provider will inform the Superintendent when the HIV
positive resident has been medically cleared for pass/leave.

D. Fluid Precautions, Protective Equipment, and Education and Training:


1. SOP 208.01, Management of Inmates Diagnosed Positive for the HIV

Antibody, provides detailed guidance regarding fluids precautions, protective
equipment, and education and training;


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers|**Policy Name:** Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers|**Policy Name:** Assign HIV Positive Offenders to Transitional Centers|
|**Policy Number:** 215.02|**Effective Date:** 1/30/2020|**Page Number:** 4 of 4|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner<br>|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division<br>(Transitional Centers)<br> <br>|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access<br>|



2. All employees with a risk of occupational exposure will receive initial and

annual training on the hazards associated with blood and other potentially
infectious materials and the protective measures to be taken to minimize or
eliminate the risk of occupational exposure per SOP 507.03.14, Training for
Health Care and Correctional Personnel Regarding Communicable Diseases;
and


3. Offenders assigned to Centers will not be housed separately.

**V.** **Attachments:**

Attachment 1: Special Conditions of Work-Release for HIV-Infected Resident

**VI.** **Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:**

Upon completion, Attachment 1 shall be placed in the Medical File and retained
according to the official records retention schedule for that file.