Is a prison official acting "under color of state law" when housing and providing medical care to prisoners?

MultiRegion, United States of America

The following excerpt is from Ramsey v. Zhang, Case No.: 3:20-cv-01076-AJB-RBB (S.D. Cal. 2020):

There is no question that prison officials act "under color of state law" when housing and providing medical care to prisoners. See West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 49-50 (1988) ("[G]enerally, a public employee acts under color of state law while acting in his official capacity or while exercising his responsibilities pursuant to state law.").

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