AIDS poses substantial medical, legal, ethical, and moral issues for correctional systems. In making policy, correctional administrators and public policymakers must consider the many people affected by the issue. They must also recognize that inmates are human beings as well as offenders. Thus, their first priority should be extensive, periodic education using live presentations to all inmates and correctional staff. This education should be regularly adapted to changes in research information. The second priority should be the provision of voluntary HIV testing in combination with mandatory, confidential AIDS counseling and high-risk assessment counseling. The third priority should be to make condoms available to all inmates either through the prison commissary or through the medical staff. 45 references.