Calif. Prison Medical Receiver Defends System
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- The court-appointed receiver who controls medical care in California prisons says a report criticizing the poor quality of inmate treatment is outdated.
The prison system's independent inspector general reported earlier this week that just nine of the 33 adult prisons met minimum health care standards through last year, even after taxpayers have spent billions of dollars to improve treatment.
Receiver J. Clark Kelso says the report is old news because it focused on the first round of inspections of the state's 33 adult prisons. He said Thursday that a second round of inspections at five prisons shows care is "improving pretty quickly."
The receiver took control of the prison medical system in 2006 after the quality of care was determined to be unconstitutional.
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