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The practice of safe sex can be a very controversial subject.Some
suggest that handing out free condoms is the answer, but when it comes
to men behind bars, the answers are not always so simple.Sex
between inmates is illegal, but that hasn’t stopped the city of
Philadelphia from giving out free condoms. The cost is minimal and some
argue that ensuring safe sex, even for inmates, will eventually save in
medical expenses and possibly lives. Studies show that prisoners are three times more likely to be infected with HIV than the general population. Leon King, the commissioner of prisons in Philadelphia, said that by paying for condoms taxpayers are actually saving money.

“I don’t even know how much they cost, but I’m sure it’s pennies compared to HIV treatment,” said King.King
said Philadelphia prison officials have given out thousands of condoms
to close to 9,000 inmates. According to the health department, those
condoms cost taxpayers $360 a year.

    They argue that you can buy more than a million condoms for the amount
of money that it would cost to treat one AIDS patient for the rest of
their life.Richard Liu, from the National Minority AIDS Council,
said, “prisoners who are unable to abstain from sex should be given an
opportunity to protect themselves from HIV.”A recent report
released by his organization notes the correlation between higher
incarceration rates among African Americans and the increased HIV
infection within their community.Although condoms are allowed in
Philadelphia prisons, they are forbidden in state prisons in
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.Officials from the state
prison system said they don’t allow condoms because sex between inmates
is illegal. Some also said they worry that condoms can be used to
smuggle contraband.AIDS activists tell the NBC 10 Investigators
that they’ve asked Gov. Ed Rendell to take another look at
Pennsylvania’s policy, because they’re convinced condom use can save
lives.