A federal judge has denied an emergency motion that would have required the Arizona Department of Corrections to implement procedures addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attorneys representing inmates asked the federal judge overseeing a class action health care settlement in the prisons to force the Department of Corrections to take more robust action to prepare for the coronavirus.
The emergency motion asked for more patient education, increased screening and treatment of inmates, and more hygiene and cleaning supplies.
On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Roslyn Silver denied the motion, stating she did not have the power to order ADC to take the requested actions.
The Department of Corrections has maintained it has a plan in place and is taking adequate steps to mitigate the risk of the virus spreading in the prisons.
