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Evans writes Corrections Department
on condom availability
Washington, D.C. 20001
April 19, 1999
Odie Washington, Acting Director
D.C. Department of Corrections
1923 Vermont Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
Via Facsimile # 332-1470
Dear Mr. Washington:
As a member of the Committee on the Judiciary, I write to request your assistance concerning the reissuance of the Departmental Order on HIV/AIDS Education and Barrier Availability. As you are aware this order was originally issued on November 12, 1993 by former Director Walter Ridley. I am concerned that the availability of education and barriers in Department of Corrections facilities needs to be reemphasized. A simple, direct way to accomplish this would be the reissuance of the Departmental Order. A copy of the order is enclosed.
I appreciate the consideration given to my staff and Mindy Daniels of the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance (GLAA) on April 1, 1999 when they met with your staff on this issue at the D.C. Jail. They met with Mike Dubois from the Department of Corrections, Beverly Hill and Earnest Williams from the Office of the Receiver, and Chris Miles from the Agency for HIV/AIDs at the Department of Health. The current services and educational opportunities for inmates sound well conceived, but I am concerned that inmates who do not seek out these services may not be getting the information they need.
To address this problem I ask that you make a written commitment prior to your upcoming confirmation hearing to do the following:
- Reissue the Departmental order;
- In the short term, include a copy of the order as an insert in the Inmate Guide to C.D.F. Medical Services that inmates receive when entering the correctional system for the short term. In the long term, the order should be printed in the Guide;
- Make a video explaining the order for inmates who cannot read and others to watch when they visit health services;
- Post the order in all health units; and
- In the short term, work with the CTF to ensure that a comprehensive HIV/AIDs education program is offered there. In the long term, make the program part of the District's contract with CTF upon contract renewal.
Please let me know as soon as possible what can be done to facilitate this request. Thank you for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please contact Lyle Blanchard of my staff on 724-8058.
Sincerely,
Jack Evans, Chair
Committee on Finance and Revenue
cc: Mindy Daniels
