L.A. County sheriff considers expanding condom distribution in jail

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Few problems

At the prison in Solano, where condoms are dispensed in a type of vending machine available to the general prison population, few problems have been reported, Sylla said.

"No place that has instituted condom distribution has then revoked it because of problems," said Nina Harawa, an assistant professor at Charles Drew University in South Los Angeles who researches HIV/AIDS in incarcerated populations.

Harawa said condoms are provided to prisoners in parts of Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and South Africa.

She said that the program at Men's Central "is an ideal example of how this can work successfully in the United States."

For Osorio, who is HIV-positive, the issue is personal.

He said he makes the trek to Men's Central Jail every Friday because condoms can save lives and money.

"How much money are we saving the state if we can keep one person from being infected?" he said.

"When they're in the jail system, you and I are paying for it," Osorio said. "That's what we need to understand."

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ari.bloomekatz@latimes.com