Texas Prisons Accused of Cruel and Unusual Punishment over Lack of Air Conditioning
Advocates have filed a lawsuit against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), alleging that the lack of air conditioning in the majority of the state’s prisons amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.
Despite the sweltering summer heat that regularly pushes temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, inmates are forced to endure extreme heat in poorly ventilated cells. The lawsuit highlights the numerous deaths and health problems associated with the excessive heat, including renal diseases, cardiovascular mortality, respiratory illnesses, and suicides.
Inmates Suffer in Unbearable Heat
Inmates have reported flooding their toilets or sinks and lying in the water to try to cool down their bodies. The lawsuit also alleges that the state has underreported heat-related deaths in recent years, citing research that suggests at least 41 people died in uncooled prisons during the record-breaking heat wave of 2021.
Prison Staff Also Affected
TDCJ staff are also impacted by the heat, with physical work in heavy uniforms and increased violence among inmates. Research has shown that assaults in uncooled prisons increase significantly during summer months.
State’s Reluctance to Provide Relief
Prison rights advocates argue that the state has the resources to provide air conditioning units but has been unwilling to do so. During the recent legislative session, the House passed a bill to install air conditioning in most prisons but it failed to pass the Senate.
The lawsuit asks a federal judge to declare the state’s prison policy unconstitutional and require that prisons be kept under 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The outcome of the case could have a significant impact on the lives of thousands of inmates in Texas.
