Prisons

“This is one situation in which they can take control of their narrative, so they can rewrite the story and envision a world in which they are not seen as the bad guys, but the heroes who can save the world.”

The courts, along with federal and state lawmakers, have created a series of barriers against improving prison conditions with air conditioning.

Temperatures in cells often stay in the 90s for hours and can reach into the triple digits. Officials say there is no evidence the heat is killing prisoners, despite a spike in prison deaths that independent analysts attribute to the heat.

Prison researchers were shocked to learn that women in Texas Department of Criminal Justice's security detention are issued a thick white gown instead of the two-piece uniform men are issued. No official explanation was offered.

In some prisons temperatures can reach triple-digit temperatures in the summer. A North Texas lawmaker is pushing for a law requiring temperatures to remain between 65 and 85 degrees.

Thursday's ruling was clear, and close to unanimous, with only Justice Clarence Thomas in dissent.

More than 120 federal prisons nationwide are unable to participate in special programs and recreation, have visitation with lawyers or family, or get hot meals at the cafeteria, according to a federal public defender.

Advocates say they hope a constitutional amendment would end the use of forced labor in the prison system. If passed, the measure would go before voters in November.

In 2018, a lawsuit was settled that was the culmination of a years-long $7 million legal battle Texas lawmakers fought against supplying corrections facilities with air conditioners. This week, the issue has resurfaced as the House is reviewing a slate of bills aimed at addressing extreme heat at state prisons.

With more than 23,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Texas’ prisons, incarcerated Texans are testing positive at a rate 40% higher than the national…