As of this month, the state of Tennessee will begin the process of removing those who have been previously convicted of “aggravated prostitution” from the state’s sex offender registry, where they have been listed due to their HIV status upon conviction.
The law was enacted in 1991, and added the aggravated enhancement to the prostitution charge for those who knowingly were engaging in sexual activity exposing those whom they encountered to HIV. The charge was also elevated to a felony from a misdemeanor.
In 2010, the law was fortified again, when legislators reclassified prostitution while HIV positive as a “violent sex offense”. This classification compelled those convicted to be included on the state Sex Offender registry for life, due to the dangerous nature of the disease and the possible fatal consequences from even a single encounter.
