IN THIS ISSUE - IN THE COURTS - Correction Digest - NIH Says Hepatitis C Care Is Now Safe For Substance Abusers, HIV Positive

Sep 28, 2026

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Corrections Digest reports on NIH and related stakeholders advancing hepatitis C treatment for populations previously excluded from standard therapies. A federal advisory panel reviewed clinical evidence, noting improved diagnostic accuracy and concluding that drug users and people with HIV/AIDS can respond to interferon- and ribavirin-based regimens. The report highlights remaining challenges for non-responders after one year and describes ongoing drug trials to test long-term maintenance strategies for preventing cirrhosis progression and liver cancer development.

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IN THE COURTS

CorrectionSDIGEST

NIH Says Hepatitis C Care Is Now Safe For Substance Abusers, HIV Positive

CONNECTICUT PROBES CLAIMS OF SEX ABUSE

June 14,2002 Vol.33,No.24 IN THIS ISSUE Connecticut Probes ChargesOf Sexual Harassment………2Georgia Replaces Two AsParole Investigation Widens.2Ohio Institutes Bonus PlanTo Cut DNA Backlog……3FBI Hits DNA Milestone.....3Florida Will Cluster Mentallyll Inmates In Four Prisons...3Pennsylvania Prison BeginsMending Deficiencies ………4Texas Population Will HoldSteady Until 2005………………4 # IN THE COURTS Justices Allow RestrictionsAs Aid To Rehabilitation...4Justices Bar ADA As RouteTo Risky Job.…………………5Justices Agree To ReviewIndigent Funding Rules……5Justices Refuse To Hear CaseOn$1 Awards To Inmates ...511th Circuit Upholds LongerSentences For Child Porn..5South Dakota Rules State LawShields Prison.………………5 ACROSS THE STATES Ariz.,Colo.,Ga.,Mich………6Nevada,N.H.,Ohio…………6Okla.,R.I.,Tenn.,Utah,Va.7 DEATH ROW Texas,Virginia… ………7 # CorrectionSDIGEST The only independent news service for the corrections professional Treatment for hepatitis Cshould be expanded to include drugusers and persons with HIV/AIDS,a federal advisory panel reported. A 12-member committee of ex-perts selected by the National Insti-tutes of Health said treatment forhepatitis C has advanced suffi-ciently that persons previously ex-cluded from therapies should nowreceive treatment. The committee reviewed thecurrent medical consensus on diag-nosis and treatment of hepatitis C. Dr.James Boyle,a liver expertfrom the Yale University School ofMedicine and chairman of thepanel,said clinical studies that ledto development of drugs to treathepatitis C excluded drug users,people infected with HIV,alcohol-ics and the clinically depressed. As a result,he said,there wasno clinical evidence that people inthese groups responded to the hepa-titis C therapies and doctors tendedto not treat such patients. “We now know that these pa-tients can respond to the standardtreatment so we are recommendingthat they receive it,"said Boyle. New tests can now detect hepa-titis C infection at a high degree ofaccuracy and can be suitable forscreening virtually all at-risk pa-tients,the panel said. # NIH Says Hepatitis C Care Is Now SafeFor Substance Abusers,HIV Positive About 85 percent of people in-fected with hepatitis C developchronic disease;the other 15 per-cent are able to eliminate the virus.Chronic disease over a 10-to 20-year period can lead to cirrhosis,liver failure and cancer. It is estimated that 3 percent to20 percent of chronically infectedpatients will develop cirrhosis;mak-ing hepatitis C the leading cause ofliver transplants. To treat the virus,a combina-tion of drugs that includes inter-feron and ribavirin has been shownto be the most effective,the panelfound. Patients who do not respond af-ter a year of this therapy,however,"present a significant problem,"thecommittee said. The group report said a largedrug trial is underway to determineif long-term maintenance therapywith interferon alone can preventprogression of cirrhosis or devel-opment of liver cancer amongchronically infected patients. Inf:http://consensus.nih.gov. # NEW YORK ADVANCESDRUG LAW REFORM8 New York's legislature afterseveral years of negotiations withthe governor has made the first ad- victed of drug felonies last yearwould have been eligible to ask ajudge for treatment as an alternativeto prison. ## CONNECTICUT PROBESCLAIMS OF SEX ABUSE Connecticut's Commission onHuman Rights will investigate theDepartment of Correction's proce-dures for resolving complaints ofsexual harassment. The commission acted after fe-male officers spoke at a legislativehearing,alleging department offi-cials had ignored or devalued com-plaints of abusive and insensitivetreatment for more than a decade. State Sen.Edith G.Prague setup the session to take testimonyfrom the officers and women's rightadvocates. Leslie J.Brett,executive direc-tor of Connecticut's PermanentCommission on the Status ofWomen,threw her support behindthe investigation on the grounds thatthe female officers'alle

FAQs

What did the federal advisory panel recommend for hepatitis C patients with prior treatment exclusions?

The panel recommended expanding standard hepatitis C treatment to include drug users and people with HIV/AIDS, stating there is sufficient evidence they can respond.

Why is hepatitis C considered a major long-term health risk in the reported population?

About 85% develop chronic disease, which over 10-to-20 years can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and cancer; hepatitis C is also noted as the leading cause of liver transplants.

What remains a concern for hepatitis C patients who do not respond to therapy?

Patients who do not respond after a year of interferon- and ribavirin-based treatment are described as presenting a significant problem.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by hdkawk