Federal Judge Considers Air Conditioning for Texas Prisons Amid Heat Concerns

A federal judge is deliberating on whether to mandate air conditioning in Texas prisons due to extreme heat conditions that advocates claim violate inmates' Eighth Amendment rights. The trial highlighted alarming temperatures, with claims that over 270 inmates died from heat exposure between 2001 and 2019. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has acknowledged some heat-related deaths but disputes the numbers presented by plaintiffs. Advocacy groups argue that insufficient heat mitigation measures have led to dangerous living conditions for over 130,000 inmates. A ruling from Judge Robert Pitman is expected in the coming weeks, which could lead to significant changes in prison conditions across the state.

Key Details: • Judge Robert Pitman to make a final ruling in the coming weeks. • Plaintiffs request air conditioning in all state-run prisons. • TDCJ claims costs to fully cool prisons exceed $1 billion and would take 23 years. • Advocates cite over 270 heat-related deaths from 2001 to 2019. • Current temperatures in some facilities reportedly exceed 120 degrees.