Arizona is getting a chance to fix systemic medical problems in its prisons.
The federal judge overseeing the long-running lawsuit against the Arizona Department of Corrections Friday approved most of the state's plan. He also made it clear he was skeptical it could remedy all the issues still plaguing the prison healthcare system.
More than a year ago, the state settled with attorneys representing inmates who have suffered harm and death because of lapses in healthcare. To this day, the state remains out of compliance with many of the required medical standards, such as timely access to doctors or medication. So the American Civil Liberties Union went back to court earlier this year.
“We don’t have much information about what their plan is actually going to look like," said attorney Kirstin Eidenbach, who represents prisoners in the case.
“However, we want to get even small benefits put into place quickly because those are going to impact our clients in a very direct way.”
Eidenbach said in the coming months, the state will have to come back to the judge with very clear goals and metrics tracking progress.
The Department of Corrections did not respond to a request for comment.
