Federal Judge Sues Texas Prison System Over Extreme Heat Conditions, Citing Cruel and Unusual Punishment Concerns.

A lawsuit is being brought by a federal judge against the Texas state prison system, claiming the heat conditions constitute cruel and unusual punishment. The plaintiffs argue that an order could require the state to air condition most of its lockups, which they argue will save lives. About 70 percent of the Texas system’s cells lack air conditioning, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The lawsuit alleges that inmates in Texas are at a higher risk of suffering heatstroke due to medication for heart problems or mental illness. The number of high-heat days increased between 1982 and 2020, increasing by about seven days a year on average in Texas and by 22 days in Florida. In Texas, the prison system installed air conditioning at some units after a series of wrongful death and class-action suits. However, attempts to address prison heat have been unsuccessful.