Prison heat in Texas

Texas prisons are facing severe scrutiny due to extreme heat conditions, as former inmates and advocacy groups argue that the absence of air conditioning constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, violating constitutional rights. Over a third of Texas's prison units lack proper cooling, with temperatures exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit, prompting desperate measures from inmates like faking suicides to access cooler areas. Former inmate Chanel Jones recounted the suffocating conditions, stating that inmates resorted to dunking clothes in toilet water to stay cool. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has not had a heat-related death since 2012, but advocacy groups stress that the current measures are insufficient. The ongoing legal battle seeks to mandate air conditioning across the entire prison system, as studies suggest significant health risks and fatalities are linked to extreme heat in facilities without adequate cooling. Opponents, including state attorneys, cite budget constraints as a barrier to improving conditions.