"In Italy, Rebels Without a Cure"

Washington Post (08/15/95) P. D1; Williams, Daniel

Since last week's press conference in which three Italian bank

robbers with AIDS explained their plight, many have questioned

the law which prohibits their arrest. "Give me a job, a place to

live, and treatment...and I'll stop robbing," said one member of

the "AIDS gang." To change the 1993 law which forbids the

continued jailing of anyone in the final stages of a terminal

disease, officials have proposed changes under which a prisoner's

individual circumstances would be taken into account before a

release was approved. Therefore, a person with AIDS who is still

able-bodied would probably not be let go. In addition, funds

have been set aside to remedy the problem of treating the disease

in jails. In 1993--when the release law was passed--another

measure was passed to provide 4,600 hospital beds for AIDS

patients. Thus far, however, nothing has been built.

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