BOISE, Idaho - Inmates at a prison near Boise were frequently housed in so-called "dry cells" without running water or mattresses, except for a handful of days when a court-appointed examiner visited the facility.
Documents detailing the use of the dry cells were presented to U.S. District Court Judge David Carter on Thursday during a contempt of court hearing in a long-running lawsuit over prison health care.
Inmates at the Idaho State Correctional Institution have asked the judge to sanction the state for allegedly misleading the court-appointed examiner, and therefore, the court.
But prison officials contend that the allegations are based on evidence that was taken out of context and overblown by disgruntled former employees.
Carter has not said when he will issue a ruling.
