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Police and HIV/AIDS: The risk, the reality, the response

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Abstract

Risk and fear have been examined empirically and theoretically in the policing literature. To date, however, there has been minimal effort to examine these concepts in the context of HIV/AIDS. Since the HIV/AIDS epidemic was first detected nearly 20 years ago, relatively little attention has been given to the complex issues it presents for police officers. The following discussion draws from both the policing and epidemiological literatures to examine police officers’ fear and risk of occupational HIV transmission and individual and departmental responses to this fear. Important elements of educational programs and policies are also addressed.

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Flavin, J. Police and HIV/AIDS: The risk, the reality, the response. AJCJ 23, 33–58 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02887283

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