Criminalization of an Epidemic: HIV-AIDS and Criminal Exposure Laws

Unfortunately, the HIV-AIDS epidemic is still out of control. According to federal esti­mates, another American becomes infected with HIV every thirteen minutes; consequently, eight people in the United States will contract HIV during the course of this program. Many individuals have been prosecuted and convicted for exposing others to HIV and in rare circum­stances for actually transmitting HIV to others. These cases have involved activities such as bit­ing, spitting, throwing bodily substances