PHOENIX - A judge has threatened a third round of contempt of court fines against the state of Arizona if it doesn’t follow through on promises in a legal settlement to improve health care for its 34,000 prisoners.
The state was fined $1.4 million in 2018 amid complaints that it dragged its feet in complying with the settlement.
Nine months ago, a judge threatened a second fine, though the penalty hasn’t yet been imposed. Late last week, the judge told the state to come into compliance by March 1 or face a $100,000 fine for each violation.
