EDGE on the Net

Instead of protecting from malicious intentional infection, criminalizing HIV has only had a negative effect on public health -- not to mention HIV-positive accused individuals.

Although many people can now live long, healthy lives with HIV, the stigma remains, keeping people from getting tested and fomenting violence and discrimination. Groups like The Stigma Project work to neutralize this stigma.

Policies that criminalize HIV non-disclosure are meant to reduce transmission, but instead can prevent people from getting tested, for fear of arrest. The non-profit Sero is working to educate people on how these laws play out.

Prosecutors have charged Willie Bishop, 20, of O’Fallon, Mo., with knowingly and recklessly infecting another person with HIV after he allegedly bit a police officer earlier this month. HIV/AIDS activists maintain these statutes, which are on the books in 34 states, actually hinder their efforts to combat the virus.