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Texas Department Of Criminal Justice Speaks Out About Air-Conditioning In State Prisons

Courtesy: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune
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Many Texas inmates have recently highlighted the conditions that they are living in. This comes as seventy percent of prisons in the state don’t have adequate air-conditioning, and some don’t have air-conditioning systems, at all.

Now, many others have voiced their concerns as a human rights problem, not just for inmates, but for correctional officers, as well.

Thus, Communications Director Amanda Hernandez has responded, stating that the Texas Department Of Criminal Justice has taken several steps to ensure the safety of inmates. This includes putting fans in certain areas of the facilities and air-conditioned areas. She also wants the public to know that everyone is able to get water and ice.

Hernandez added that there is evidence that these measures are working. This is because there have only been five inmates who needed more than just first-aid as it relates to heat injuries, this year. Additionally, no one has died from heat-related injuries, at the facilities, this year.



17 Comments

    1. Not everyone in prison is guilty. You can tell you know nothing about our “justice system”.
      You’re definitely NOT innocent until proven guilty (in some cases), you’re GUILTY until you can AFFORD a good attorney to prove your innocence. Hence, many people can not afford that, so they’re forced to take plea offers in hopes of getting home soon.

      However, even if they did indeed commit the crimes, we are not a 3rd world country and they’re paying for their mistakes. Us doing nothing and letting them die of heat stokes, is against the constitution.

    2. You are very uninformed and speak nonsense. Lots of innocent people in prisons so DA can further his/her career. And the majority are minor crimes that people commit daily just don’t get caught at it. Doesn’t make them less human and certainly don’t deserve to be roasted alive so the State has more money in their coffers.

  1. Regardless of what they did, they are still Americans,& should be just as protected against cruel and unusual punishment as the general public. Prisons are typically metal warehouse like buildings with no windows. No way for a br33ze but plenty of heat transfer from the metal roof. Theres two huge swamp fans, buut all they do is blow hott air. You arent allowed to alter or fold your pants or shirt without catching a major case for attempting to escape. The showers are typixally too hott to stand under this time of year, theyre lying when they claim to make ice and water available. They fill up an igloo twixe.a day with ice Nd water. The ice is gone by 9am. The water is usually out hours before the refill happens, even after prompting the COs of the empty jug.

  2. Other news outlets have reported two deaths with symptoms that are consistent to heat related illnesses.

  3. Yes I do agree they are still all Americans. My husband is in the Texas prison now and he has many health issues. And trust me the heat don’t do him any favors.

  4. Amazing how their measurement of whether things are bad regarding the intense heat in prisons is in how many deaths there have been! Seriously? As long as no one dies, then things are fine! Absolutely appalling. These people are being cooked nearly to death day after day. But hey .. long as they don’t actually die… Meh. We’re good, right? This country is an embarrassment.

  5. These are people NOT animals. Animals are treated better. The Texas prisons do not care about the inmates. They figure there’s a reason for them being there so why make their life a little more comfortable, whether they are guilty or innocent. They are treated like crap. I have CO’s get in prisoner’s faces just to try to intimidate them. And god forbid you go visit, you are treated exactly like a prisoner. Something needs to be done about the air. How would you like a hot blow dryer blowing on you all day!?

  6. I have been in one of these prisons used to be called Eastham unit, trustee camp. They had one ice machine in the kitchen which always was broken down so hot water is what we drank, the guards were not in any hurry to fill or have the water filled in the igloo containers, at least get a water fountain for all to use, then after COVID we were moved into the main unit, forget about getting cold water as stated before in replies they were only putting ice out into two maybe depending on size of the dorm one igloo cooler, the guards can go to the officer dining room for come drinks and ice, inmates can’t, only time we got some air conditioning is when we went to school or the unit medical area no one wants to because you will be sitting in a cage for hours and pray you don’t get caught in count time.it was so hot in the dorms we had all the windows that would open open and the fans sucking the air in but most don’t even work and are so loud no one wants them on, we would have to wet our sheets and clothes at times just to sleep apauling is to say the least. With all the money Texas prisons are making for each body incarcerated in these prisons the ekast they need to do is get adequate air conditioning and lest to say cold water for all at all times. I had heat stroke a few times in there and just prayed I would make it through the days most times

  7. Just because someone has been incarcerated doesn’t take away their humanity! Prison walks do nit separate you from the protection of the Constitution! One of the protections is protection from cruel and unusual punishments!

    Yes, they are behind bars for being found guilty of committing a crime, but they don’t deserve to be cooked alive! These inmates are the sons & daughters of people! They are husbands and fathers ! They are more than just a statistic!

  8. 5 people is enough. You can only drink so much cold water. But they love to punish the inmate’s families

  9. They classify the deaths as anything but heat related. If one dies from heart failure due to the heat, then it is listed as cardiac arrest (not heat related). They’re dying. TDCJ is just keeping it under wraps.

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