Advocacy Groups Intensify Legal Battle Over Extreme Heat in Texas Prisons
Several advocacy organizations have joined a lawsuit against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, demanding air conditioning in prisons to prevent heat-related deaths.
- Advocacy groups argue that extreme temperatures in Texas prisons pose severe health risks, especially to vulnerable populations like the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.
- The lawsuit expansion follows reports of inadequate temperature control, with some prisons lacking air conditioning as inmates face temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Testimonies from formerly incarcerated individuals highlight the dire conditions, including heat-induced health crises and fatalities that have not been officially acknowledged as heat-related by authorities.
- The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has been criticized for its slow response, despite previous commitments to improve conditions after a series of heat-related incidents.
- Experts and activists emphasize the need for immediate action, citing the increasing frequency of extreme heat waves and the disproportionate impact on minority populations in prisons.
Austin Chronicle 
The 19th 
Time 
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Houston Public Media 
The Texas Observer 
