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More fines threatened against Arizona in prison suit

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Posted at 12:54 PM, Feb 05, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-05 14:54:21-05

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.