"Report Reveals Over 200 Charged Under Outdated Ohio HIV Laws"
At least 214 Ohioans were charged under state laws criminalizing HIV from 2014 to 2020, with the majority facing prosecution for failing to disclose their HIV status to sexual partners. The laws, which have not been reviewed since the 1990s, are considered outdated and do not reflect current scientific understanding of HIV transmission. The report highlights uneven enforcement across counties and a significant racial disparity, with Black defendants accounting for over 35% of those prosecuted. Advocacy groups are calling for legislative reform to modernize these laws and ensure fair treatment of HIV-positive individuals.
