A federal judge says he will rule next week on a request to intervene after a rash of suicides in Alabama prisons.
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson on Thursday said he will issue an order next week.
Attorneys for prisoners asked Thompson to intervene after 15 inmates killed themselves within 15 months. They argued the state is not doing enough to prevent suicides and asked Thompson to order changes in how inmates are monitored and to restrict the use of solitary confinement.
Alabama prison officials disputed the assertions and said the system is taking steps to protect potentially suicidal inmates.
Thompson heard testimony over several days about recent prison suicides.
Thompson in 2017 ruled state prisons provided "horrendously inadequate" mental health care to inmates.