Summary
Some U.S. states are facing legal and advocacy pressures to address extreme heat in prisons as temperatures rise during the summer months. While a few states are moving to install cooling systems, many prisons still lack adequate air conditioning. The issue has led to debates and legislative efforts, though not all have resulted in change.
Key Facts
- Temperatures in some U.S. prison cells can reach over 100 degrees.
- States like Texas and Virginia looked at laws to address prison heat but did not pass them.
- Around two-thirds of Texas prisons have little or no air conditioning.
- In Delaware, $2 million was allocated to improve cooling in one prison.
- Rising temperatures in prisons impact both the health of incarcerated people and staff.
- A study found higher death rates in prisons during heatwaves.
- Correctional officers in New York went on strike partly due to poor working conditions related to heat.
- Legal challenges and advocacy continue to push for better climate control in prisons.
