Overview

• U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman ruled that extreme heat in Texas prisons constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.
• The judge declined to order immediate installation of air conditioning, citing the high costs and logistical challenges of implementing such measures across all facilities.
• The case, originally filed in 2023 and expanded by advocacy groups, will now proceed to trial, where the plaintiffs are expected to prevail.
• Only about one-third of Texas' 100 prison facilities are fully air-conditioned, leaving approximately 85,000 inmates in dangerously hot conditions during summer months.
• Advocates argue that current heat mitigation measures, such as fans and respite areas, are insufficient to prevent heat-related deaths and illnesses exacerbated by climate change.