Center for Health Justice
 “There was a chain link fence that separated us from the other inmates,” recalls Ron Synder who was incarcerated at the Chino Institute for Men in Del Norte, California. “They segregated those of us that were HIV positive and everyone knew that’s why we were in a different unit. The fence didn’t give us a choice as to whether or not we wanted to disclose our HIV status.”
For Ron, the fence symbolized the inequality that he faced behind bars because of his HIV status. He understood he was serving a 19-month sentence for a reason, but did not want to face harassment because of his status. He soon realized that he would be treated differently again when he applied for restitution. This is when inmates are allowed to get a reduced sentence by staying at a halfway house under supervision. They are still technically under the custody of the prison system, but are allowed to come and go from their job as they are integrated back into the community. As with other inmates, Ron applied for the restitution in hopes to move into the transitional living arrangement and reduce his sentence by three months. “All of the paperwork was filled out -everything was set. Until they found out I was positive,” he recounts. “They told me my status was too much of a risk for others in the halfway house.” Even with Ron’s physician saying his health was not a threat to others, and that Ron was in good health while on his medication, they declined his request for restitution. After writing letters seeking legal answers, Ron finally got a response and a visit from Mary Sylla from the Center for Health Justice (then CorrectHELP). She agreed with his assessment – that his treatment was unfair and unjust. Center for Health Justice filed a complaint with the federal government’s U.S. Department of Disabilities. In turn, the Department wrote a letter to the State of California about conducting an investigation into the matter since the practice was against the Disabilities Act. With the Center for Health Justice leading the way, the halfway houses now technically accept HIV+ individuals. However, Ron was released on parole before any changed occurred. He still believes people with HIV are placed at the bottom of the restitution waiting lists since the halfway houses do not want to have to deal with the bureaucracy if medical problems ensue. When Ron was released in 2000, he went directly to Center for Health Justice to volunteer. In a few months, he became an employee of Center for Health Justice and soon designed and implemented the RARE (Re-Adjustment & Re Entry) program for those that are post-incarcerated. Ron's work continues on the RARE program which consists of educating, supporting, and coordinating services for our post-incarcerated clients. He is also an active member of the HIV Incarcerated Task Force and Los Angeles County Re-entry Round Table, the Prisoner Advocate for the Los Angeles County Public Health Department Institutional Review Board, member of the Jail Advocacy Task Force formed and supported by the ACLU, and a community member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department GLBT Advisory Council.
|