Incarcerated Alaskans File Class Action Over Prison Health Care Failures

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A group of ten incarcerated individuals has filed a federal class action lawsuit against Alaska Governor Michael Dunleavy and top officials at the Department of Corrections, alleging systemic failures in prison medical, mental health, and dental care.

Deficient Health Care System Alleged

The complaint, filed May 1 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, outlines widespread and long-standing problems across the state’s correctional facilities. The plaintiffs claim that the Alaska Department of Corrections (DOC) provides care so inadequate that it violates the constitutional rights of approximately 4,400 incarcerated individuals.

Represented by the ACLU of Alaska and other counsel, the plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief to compel the state to provide constitutionally adequate care.

Plaintiffs Cite Delays, Denials, and Preventable Harm

The complaint highlights extensive delays and denials of treatment. Several plaintiffs, including Rory Vail and Jim Adams, report suffering prolonged and untreated pain due to delayed surgeries and inadequate management of chronic conditions.

Others, such as Naomi Holt and Clarence Shirley, describe years-long waits for dental care and denial of essential treatment based on their pretrial status. “People awaiting trial are regularly denied necessary health care services solely due to their pre-trial status,” the lawsuit states.

Several wrongful death lawsuits are also cited as evidence of a broken system. Among them: a 2017 suicide verdict against the DOC, a 2019 settlement over death from detox complications, and multiple recent deaths attributed to neglect.

Inadequate Staffing and Resources

The plaintiffs allege that DOC facilities are understaffed and ill-equipped to meet basic medical needs. The complaint details shortages of qualified personnel, lack of infirmary space, and inadequate mental health infrastructure. At some facilities, medical check-ins are conducted through cell doors, raising concerns about confidentiality and quality of care.

In 2024, the State Ombudsman found that DOC failed to provide adequate dental services. The agency admitted staffing shortages but did not dispute the findings.

Relief Sought

The plaintiffs are not seeking monetary damages. Instead, they ask the court to declare the current conditions unconstitutional and to order immediate improvements across Alaska’s prisons.

The case marks a major legal challenge to the state’s correctional health care system and could have far-reaching implications for how incarcerated individuals in Alaska receive medical treatment.