ABSTRACT Objective: to describe health care provided to people living with HIV/AIDS in the penitentiary system. Method: a narrative review of the literature that considered publications from 2012 to 2017. The bibliographic survey was performed using controlled descriptors and keywords in the LILACS, PubMed, Embase, Cinahl and Scopus databases. Result: a total of 215 studies were retrieved that went through three selection stages, including nine. These were grouped according to the areas: HIV prevention, HIV testing and diagnosis, HIV treatment, and articulation between Health Services in addressing HIV. Conclusion: prisons have the capacity to offer quality health care to persons deprived of their liberty living with HIV, through health promotion and prevention of the HIV virus, as well as early diagnosis and adherence to treatment.