NAACP calls for inquiry on prisoners with AIDS

The Commercial Appeal, March 25, 1996
By Terry Keeter

The Memphis Branch of the NAACP called Sunday for an investigation into the care and treatment of Shelby County inmates who are infected with the AIDS virus.

The organization, acting on a motion by Vasco Smith, also voted to look into the reasons a counselor was barred from the jail this month.

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Vounteer counselor banned by jail - Talk about inmate AIDS suspected

Memphis Commercial Appeal, March 23, 1996
By Patti Patterson

A longtime prison ministry volunteer has been banned from the Shelby County Jail.

Novella Smith Arnold, executive director of We Care Inc., the criminal justice ministry of Calvary Episcopal Church, no longer is allowed to visit the jail, according to a March 12 memo from sheriff's Inspector Allan Smith to captains and lieutenants. The memo gives no reason for the ban.

Arnold said she thinks she was banned because of comments she made March 9 about the spread of AIDS among inmates.

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