Judge Rules Against Texas Prisons' Heat Conditions, Sparking Legal Challenges Across U.S.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — In a recent development, a federal judge criticized Texas for holding inmates in facilities lacking air conditioning but did not mandate immediate corrective action ahead of the summer season. This case now stands as one of the largest legal disputes in the nation concerning the protection of prisoners from severe excessive heat.

But U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman's warnings to Texas to act after discovering the circumstances within the prison system as unconstitutional Could have relevance in other parts of the U.S. where comparable issues persist, as stated by lawyers handling the Texas case and other supporters of prisoners' rights.

Several states predominantly located in the Southern region of the U.S., including Texas, are currently dealing with legal challenges due to harsh prison conditions where temperatures frequently exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 Celsius). Louisiana , a group of men incarcerated at a state penitentiary this week again asked a federal judge to take steps to protect prisoners doing outdoor agricultural labor in dangerous heat.

"Texas has the biggest prison system in the nation, and the judge determined that it was operating in an unconstitutional way, showing indifference towards hazardous conditions," stated Jeff Edwards, who led the legal team for the Texas case.

“Every warden and leader of a correctional system is going to be aware of it,” Edwards said. “It sends an incredibly powerful message.”

The ruling from the Texas case won’t hold sway over correctional facilities in different states. However, Corene Kendrick, who serves as the deputy director of the ACLU National Prison Project, noted that the judge’s conclusions will carry considerable weight for legal actions addressing similar concerns about severe heat, inadequate or nonexistent cooling systems, and prisoners facing life-threatening conditions.

"It's influential,” Kendrick said.

Texas houses over 130,000 individuals in its prisons. Out of approximately 100 prison facilities, only around one-third are completely air-conditioned, with the remaining units having either limited or no electrical cooling systems at all.

The legal case was first brought forward in 2023 by Bernie Tiede The ex-mortician who received a life sentence for murder and was the inspiration behind the film "Bernie" saw several prisoner advocacy organizations step forward to support his legal battle and broaden its scope.

Multiple individuals previously imprisoned in Texas recounted that prisoners would pretend to attempt suicide to get transferred to more comfortable medical sections. Others admitted to starting blazes with the intention of making guards use hoses to douse their cells, thereby achieving desired outcomes.

Texas authorities admitted that heat might have contributed to several fatalities in 2023 but contested assertions that its effects were significantly more widespread. On Thursday, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice requested $118 million from legislators to add air conditioning for approximately 16,000 additional prison beds.

The agency stated, 'We remain committed to installing more air-conditioned beds across our facilities.'

Last year, a federal judge in Louisiana instructed prison authorities to expand shaded zones, arrange extra break times, supply sunscreen, and conduct medical examinations for inmates particularly susceptible to extreme heat.

However, the order did not halt operations at a previous slave plantation when heat index levels reached 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31.1 degrees Celsius) or above, as the plaintiffs had sought.

The judge's directive has lapsed, and a number of prisoners have submitted a fresh appeal for assistance.

"As the summer begins in Louisiana, the state still requires imprisoned individuals to labor in the fields of what was once a plantation, working under hazardous conditions that expose them to significant risks of heat-related illnesses," stated Samantha Pourciau, Senior Staff Attorney at the Promise of Justice Initiative.

The Louisiana Department of Corrections did not promptly reply for commentary.

In New Mexico, a federal lawsuit alleges that eight prisoners were locked inside a scorching prison transport van during hot summer conditions with non-functional air conditioning for several hours. Meanwhile, in Georgia, authorities are dealing with a federal suit filed by the family of a man who claimed his relative perished after being kept in an open-air cell devoid of water, shade, or ice back in July 2023.

In the Texas case, proceedings will move forward towards an eventual trial. The judge has cautioned the state about the possibility that they might be mandated to allocate billions for installing permanent air-conditioning systems.

The Texas Legislature is in session and is presently drafting the biennial state budget. Legislators have introduced at least three bills aimed at offering some assistance.

As the Texas summer draws near, temperatures are climbing. Certain parts of the state have already exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius).

I feel sorrowful that we won't be able to shield them with assistance this summer," Edwards stated. "However, we will progress as swiftly as possible.

___ The Associated Press reporters Sara Cline from Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Kate Brumback based in Atlanta; Morgan Lee working out of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Jacques Billeaud stationed in Phoenix made significant contributions.