This book highlights a neglected area in the field of rehabilitation offemale offenders with
AIDS. It provides data to show how women workingas HIV peer educators in prison utilize their
peer experiences as a transition point for rehabilitation both inside and outside of the
penitentiary. HIV and prison are inextricably linked and education has proved to be the one
constant that mitigates the spread of both HIV and crime. Research on female inmates in general
is not frequent and this book presents unique qualitative data that includes rich accounts from
the women themselves. It illustrates the benefits derived by female inmates who work in an HIV
prison-based peer program while adding to the criminology literature on female patterns of
criminality and rehabilitation. It provides a greater understanding of how prison programs
affect the processes of criminal desistance and behavioral changes for femaleinmates. Women
involved in such programming are able to change the criminal trajectory of their life
direction. contributing to reduced levels of recidivism and institutional disciplinary
infractions. The implications for these programs is relevant within the broader perspective of
women HIV and incarceration.
