A judge in Arizona is contemplating launching a third contempt-of-court proceeding against the state due to ongoing concerns about the quality of health care provided to prisoners. The judge highlighted that the system for medical and mental health care in state-run prisons is still lacking, putting prisoners at risk.
Experts monitoring the situation reported that the private company responsible for health care services in prisons is understaffed and needs to increase salaries to attract and retain employees. Despite previous contempt fines totaling $2.5 million, improvements have not been made, leading to the current situation.
The judge is considering overriding or rescinding a 2009 law that mandates private companies to provide health care in state-run prisons, as it may be hindering compliance with court orders. However, she also suggested that enforcing the terms of the contract with the current provider could address some of the issues.
The state has withheld over $10 million from the health care provider due to understaffing issues. The Corrections Director assured the court of the administration's commitment to resolving the health care problems.
In a recent ruling, the judge found that the state had violated prisoners' constitutional rights by failing to provide adequate care, leading to preventable deaths. Testimonies from prisoners, including one who suffered from undiagnosed multiple sclerosis for years, highlighted the dire situation within the prison health care system.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of individuals in state-run prisons, alleged instances where serious medical conditions went undetected or were dismissed with insensitive responses. The state has denied allegations of inadequate care, but ongoing concerns persist.
