Thirty states criminalize people living with HIV, however the legal landscape is rapidly changing. In 2021 alone four states reformed or modernized their HIV-related criminal laws. In this workshop, panelists discuss the state of HIV criminal reform efforts, with a special emphasis on strategies for: 1) reaching across social movements–including with Black Lives Matter and others working against mass incarceration, sex workers, hepatitis advocates, etc., and 2) diversifying legal reforms beyond state legislative efforts. Coalitions are broader and stronger when they work across social movements,and when they adopt diverse approaches to reform that include roles for public health officials, judges, prosecutors, and public defenders. Legislative reforms are critical, but lasting change can only be achieved by placing HIV criminalization in in the context of broader social movements, and must provide real relief to those arrested, incarcerated, and put on sex offender registries because of HIV criminal laws. Panelists will discuss litigation strategies, the role of lobbyists and national organizations, alliances with prosecutors and public health officials, and coalition building with civil society groups in state efforts to reform HIV criminal laws.

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