Italy Drops Law Freeing Prisoners With HIV, AIDS

ROME — An Italian court on Wednesday struck down a law that kept HIV-infected criminals out of jail and allowed a gang of bandits with AIDS to rob at least 10 banks this year.

The Constitutional Court ruled that judges could decide to keep a suspect or convicted felon with the disease in jail or in an isolation ward.

The author of the opinion, Judge Giuliano Vassalli, said the ruling “signals an implicit invitation” to prison and health authorities to provide special wards.

The ruling ends an automatic ban on jailing criminals with acquired immune deficiency syndrome or those infected with human immunodeficiency virus, which causes AIDS.

The law was intended as a means to deal compassionately with such people in the prison system.

The legislation also called for funding for more than 4,600 hospital beds, but activists say no facilities were built.

More than 3,000 inmates and suspects have been freed under the 1993 law. Only about 1% have committed new crimes, maintained Vittorio Agnoletto, head of the Italian League for the Fight Against AIDS.

The law drew fire this year when a group of men with AIDS were accused of robbing at least 10 banks in the Turin area. Police released them each time they were captured.