By C1 Staff
PHOENIX — A settlement for a lawsuit over medical treatment brought about by inmates at 10 Arizona state prisons will be decided by a federal judge Wednesday.
The suit claimed that prisoners were subjected to “unnecessary pain and suffering, preventable injury amputation, disfigurement, and death” in Arizona prisons, according to Courthouse News Service.
The suit alleges that prison staff were not properly trained to handle medical emergencies and thus failed to respond “properly and timely to emergencies.”
The complaint continues to say that “critically ill prisoners have begged prison officials for treatment, only to be told ‘be patient,’ ‘it’s all in your head,’ or ‘pray’ to be cured.
The Department of Corrections hasn’t admitted any wrongdoing, but has agreed to take enact a series of measures to improve conditions inside the correctional facilities.
Measures include more funding for staffing, the near elimination of the use of pepper spray, and special accommodations for inmates’ needs.
The settlement also includes allowing prisoners’ attorneys to tour the prisons and to have access to DOC records to ensure compliance with the agreement.
After four years, Arizona will be able to petition to terminate the settlement.
The settlement doesn’t provide prisoners with any monetary damages, but the state must pay their legal fees.