In Austin, Texas, a federal judge recently criticized the state for holding prisoners in facilities lacking air conditioning, but he stopped short of demanding immediate improvements before the summer. This decision is part of one of the largest legal battles in the U.S. addressing the safety of inmates during extreme heat. Although U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman found the prison system’s conditions to be unconstitutional, he did not impose a mandate for rapid fixes. Legal experts and prisoner rights advocates suggest that Pitman’s critique may influence similar legal challenges across the nation.
The state of Texas is just one among several Southern states that are grappling with lawsuits concerning the oppressive conditions in prisons where temperatures frequently exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 Celsius). For instance, inmates in Louisiana have petitioned a federal judge this week, seeking measures to protect those compelled to perform outdoor labor under dangerous heat conditions.
Lead attorney for the Texas case, Jeff Edwards, highlighted that Texas is the largest prison system in the U.S., and the ruling essentially called out its officials for acting unconstitutionally and showing indifference toward dangerous conditions. “It sends an incredibly powerful message,” Edwards stated, indicating the case’s potential influence on other correctional systems.
While the Texas ruling won’t directly affect other states’ prisons, Corene Kendrick, Deputy Director of the ACLU National Prison Project, believes the findings will be crucial in similar lawsuits dealing with extreme heat and lack of air conditioning. Texas houses over 130,000 prisoners, with only about a third of the approximately 100 units being fully equipped with air conditioning. The lawsuit was initiated in 2023 by Bernie Tiede, whose case inspired the movie “Bernie,” and subsequently supported by multiple prisoner advocacy groups.
Testimonies from former Texas prisoners revealed desperate measures by inmates to escape the sweltering conditions, such as feigning suicide to access cooler areas or setting fires so guards would hose down cells. While Texas officials acknowledged that heat was a contributing factor in several deaths last year, they contested claims suggesting more widespread issues. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice recently requested $118 million from lawmakers for air conditioning improvements.
Louisiana faces its own controversies with a federal judge having previously ordered increased shaded areas and health checks for inmates working in hot conditions. However, work on a former plantation hasn’t been halted despite heat indexes over 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31.1 Celsius), as requested by plaintiffs. With summer approaching, advocates like Samantha Pourciau express concerns for prisoners still compelled to work in unsafe conditions, arguing this increases risks of heat-related illnesses.
The Louisiana Department of Correction has yet to comment, while other states like New Mexico and Georgia face similar legal challenges over allegations of inhumane heat conditions for inmates. The ongoing Texas case is expected to head toward trial, with the judge indicating the state may need to allocate billions for comprehensive air conditioning installation in prisons.
The Texas Legislature is currently in session, drafting the two-year state budget, with at least three bills introduced to address the prison heat issue. With summer around the corner and some regions of Texas already experiencing temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius), efforts to provide relief are pressing. “I’m regretful we can’t protect them with relief this summer,” Edwards remarked, emphasizing their resolve to expedite the process.