‘I lost my retirement, my career, my home’: the Americans imprisoned for being HIV-positive

Thirty-three states maintain laws tied to exposure or transmission, many developed long before the illness was understood

• Listen to the podcast: Imprisoned for being HIV positive

Robert Suttle was 30 when he was arrested and imprisoned for the felony of intentional exposure to the Aids virus". He had met the man at a gay club on New Year's Eve 2007 and they had quickly begun a relationship.

Suttle says he disclosed his status as HIV-positive to his partner immediately. However, when the couple separated a few months later, the man pressed charges claiming that Suttle had not disclosed his status. Suttle now views this as retaliation" over the breakup.