These figures are from 1996-97, and released by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care, in their recently released report to Congress, called:

"The Health Status of Soon-To-Be-Released Inmates"

~~~~~~~~~~

39,000 had active AIDS
145,000 were HIV positive
186,000 had chlamydia
77,000 had gonnorrhea
155,000 had Hepatitis B
ONE MILLION, FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND had Hepatitis C
12,000 had ACTIVE Tuberculosis
566,000 had Tuberculosis infection
~~~~~~~~~~

ADD EM UP, FOLKS!

That is 3,080,000 infectious cases released into the population of the United States, IN ONE YEAR!

THREE MILLION AND EIGHTY THOUSAND CASES OF CONTAGIOUS INFECTION!

~~~~~~~~~~
Menolly

Here is some more info

RELEASED PRISONERS ARE CARRYING INFECTIOUS DISEASES BACK TO
COMMUNITIES

Jails and prisons have become giant incubators for some of the
worst infectious diseases known. And as increasing numbers of
prisoners are being released back into their communities, they
are taking these diseases back home and spreading them among the
general population.

In some cases, prison authorities don't even warn those about to
be released that they are infected.

o According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC), at least 1.3 million inmates released in 1996 were
infected with hepatitis C -- representing 29 percent of
the 4.5 million cases of the disease nationwide.

o Similarly, newly released inmates accounted for 35 percent
of the 34,000 Americans with tuberculosis in 1996.

o And newly released inmates accounted for 13 to 17 percent
of Americans infected with HIV or AIDS, the study
estimated.

o Authorities say that most prisoners with hepatitis C did
not contract the disease while in prison, but brought it
in with them -- and that most prisons are wasting the
opportunity to treat them while they are confined.

CDC experts are urging all prisons to vaccinate their populations
to prevent hepatitis outbreaks and encouraging all states to test
prisoners with a history of intravenous drug use and other risky
behavior for the disease.

Source: Fox Butterfield, "Infections in Newly Released Inmates
Are Rising Concern," New York Times, January 28, 2003.

For text
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/28/national/28PRIS.html

Ken,as you said the other day REV 6:8....

I have it tattooed on my arm to see every day........