The Arizona Department of Corrections was sent back to the negotiating table after it failed to comply with a previous settlement requiring better health care, a judge said.

The Arizona Department of Corrections has asked an appeals court to throw out a contempt-of-court ruling against its director and a $1.4 million fine against the state for failing to adequately improve health care for the 33,000 inmates in state-run prisons.

Arizona saw seven governors come and go in the time it took Arnold v. Sarn to resolve, and another case that addresses a forgotten population – prisoners and their health care – began.

On Friday, the day of his retirement, U.S. Magistrate Judge David Duncan ordered the Arizona Department of Corrections to pay $1.4 million for continued noncompliance with court-ordered prison health care standards.

A federal judge believes the system of monitoring Arizona’s prison health care may be so “corrupt” that it can no longer be trusted.

United States Magistrate Judge David Duncan on July 25 ordered the Arizona Department of Corrections not to retaliate against any prisoners who offered verbal or written testimony in a case concerning health care provided to thousands in state custody.

The Arizona Department of Corrections faces more than $2 million in sanctions after providing documentation of widespread noncompliance with court-ordered health care standards.

The Arizona Department of Corrections is prepared to spend more money to keep the company that provides health care to roughly 35,000 prisoners from following through on a threat to not renew its contract.