On June 22, 2018, the federal court in Parsons v. Ryan issued a scathing order finding Arizona prison officials in contempt of court for the Arizona Department of Correction’s ongoing failure to provide basic health care to the approximately 34,000 people in its custody.  The court also ordered the appointment of independent experts after massive failure of medical care and in the monitoring of ADC’s health care contractor.

Fox News – 05/25/18,

BISMARCk, N.D. – More than 80,000 inmates are placed in solitary confinement every year across the country.

A study by New York University says solitary confinement is considered harmful to a prisoner’s mental health because it restricts meaningful social contact.

San Bernardino, California (March 28, 2018) –A settlement has been reached in a class action case filed against San Bernardino County regarding the constitutionality of the conditions of confinement in the county jails. Under the settlement county officials have agreed to make improvements in certain areas of jail operations that affect the health and well-being of those who are incarcerated in the county’s jails.

KTOO – March 23, 2018,

A small group of Alaska corrections officers are spending more time getting to know inmates, with a goal of helping them reintegrate in society once they’re released. That’s one of several reforms Alaska officials are drawing from the example of Norway, in making changes to how prisons in the state operate.

KJZZ, December 20 – Waving his iPad and pointing to a KJZZ story on prison health care, Magistrate Judge David Duncan furiously addressed the courtroom at a Parsons v. Ryan status hearing in federal court Wednesday morning.