(Los Angeles) – The Southern California HIV Advocacy Coalition (SCHAC) and the California HIV Alliance will hold a press conference on Tuesday, October 2, at 10:00 a.m. (in front of L.A. Central Jail, 441 Bauchet Street, LA, CA 90012) to urge Governor Schwarzenegger to sign AB 1334, “The Inmate and Community Public Health & Safety Act” by Assemblymember Sandré Swanson, which will help reduce new HIV infections in California. Passed by state legislators in early September, the bill, now on the Governor’s desk, would allow nonprofit and health agencies to provide condoms to inmates in state prisons, where HIV prevalence is 8 to 10 times greater than in the general population.

What:   Press Conference on Assemblymember Sandré Swanson’s bill AB 1334 (the Inmate and Community Public Health & Safety Act)

When:   Tuesday, October 2, at 10:00 a.m

Where: Front steps of L.A. Central Jail, 441 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles, 90012

Who:      Confirmed Speakers:

Contact: Office of Assemblymember Sandré Swanson – Mike Sheen, 916-319-2016
                Vincent Jones, (323) 244-1070, vincent@healthjustice.net
                Ruel Nolledo - (213) 785-1993, rnolledo@apla.org   

Notes: AB 1334 will help prevent new infections both within the correctional system and the community-at-large. African Americans and Latinos are disproportionately represented in prisons, and also make up a disproportionate percentage of new HIV infections. In the U.S., African-Americans accounted for 50 percent of all AIDS cases diagnosed in 2004, yet make up only 12 percent of the nation’s population. Latinos comprise 14 percent of the U.S. population, but account for 18 percent of total AIDS cases.

Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Alameda counties account for 69 percent of all AIDS cases and 72 percent of all HIV cases in California.  These counties also receive a high number of parolees from California state prisons.  According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Los Angeles and San Diego make up 37 percent of parolee destinations.

Participating Agencies:

African American Community Development Initiative (AACDI)
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
AIDS Project Los Angeles
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Bienestar Human Services
California HIV Alliance      
Center for Health Justice
City of Los Angeles – AIDS Coordinator’s Office
Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center
Southern California HIV Advocacy Coalition (SCHAC)
The Wall – Las Memorias