Inmates Face Extreme Danger as Prison Temperatures Rise

As climate change intensifies extreme heat events, inmates in U.S. prisons face increasingly dangerous conditions, with many facilities ill-equipped to handle rising temperatures. Older structures, often built with heat-trapping materials like concrete and steel, coupled with overcrowding, exacerbate the risks of heat-related illnesses and deaths.

Steve Brooks, incarcerated at California's San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, described his cell as having no windows or air conditioning, relying on two small fans during extreme heat. During an eight-hour power outage in 2024, temperatures inside his cell reached between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit (32 to 38 degrees Celsius), creating a sensation of suffocation. Access to ice or cold water was not available.

Extreme heat can lead to dizziness, nausea, headaches, and potentially fatal heatstroke. The body's ability to cool itself through sweat evaporation is hampered when heat combines with high humidity. Many U.S. prisons, constructed during a significant building boom that began in the 1970s, were not designed with modern cooling systems in mind.

Research indicates a rise in the number of intensely hot days, with hotter temperatures correlating to a higher risk of death for inmates, including suicides. Damon Gilbert, a fellow with New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, noted that heat-related deaths in prisons are likely underreported and that high temperatures can worsen existing chronic health conditions. He stated that the country is not adequately adapting these facilities to the changing climate.

A study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that a majority of U.S. prisons experienced at least 10 days in the summer hotter than any previous summer on record. Factors like overcrowding and movement restrictions further amplified these risks. Another study published in the National Library of Medicine linked hotter days to increased deaths from conditions such as heart disease and suicide, even affecting those incarcerated for short periods or who were elderly.

Julie Skarha, who led the study on prison deaths linked to hotter days, suggested that newly incarcerated individuals face a higher risk because they are not yet acclimated to the heat. "Some people are sentenced to serve in places they’ve never lived before... So suddenly someone is having to adapt to this environment very quickly, something they’re not used to," she said.

In Minnesota's Lino Lakes prison, two medium-security units built in 1992 house approximately 336 prisoners without effective cooling, according to the state. Greg Andreotti, who spent two summers in these units, described cells with large, untinted windows that baked in the sun all day. Personal fans, while available for purchase, were unaffordable for many and sometimes out of stock. Research suggests that fans are largely ineffective during severe heat waves.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections acknowledged that while common areas initially had air conditioning, it was added to housing units years later but struggles with humidity control. Spokesman Aaron Swanum stated that repair efforts have not effectively cooled the units due to an undersized system, and the department is seeking state funding for improvements.

Currently, Lino Lakes uses industrial fans in common areas and hallways, offers continuous ice access, and has painted skylights to mitigate heat. A recent window tinting project is expected to provide some relief. Josh Mcmillen, a former inmate at Lino Lakes, described the conditions as "oppressive. It’s like sitting in a tomb slash sauna," where the stifling heat made it difficult to breathe.

California's Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation stated it follows a heat illness prevention plan, with prisons monitoring temperatures and providing additional cooling measures during extreme heat. However, inmates like Andreotti reported limited access to ice and found that measures like communal showers or laying on concrete floors offered only temporary relief.

Lawsuits concerning prison heat have been filed in several states, including Missouri, Florida, and Texas. In Texas, a federal judge deemed extreme heat in prisons "plainly unconstitutional" and ordered the state to install air conditioning in all its facilities by the end of 2029. Advocates claim temperatures in Texas prisons have exceeded 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.9 C), contributing to hundreds of inmate deaths in recent years.

In Georgia, a lawsuit settled for $3.25 million involved Carlos Ramirez Bibiano, who died in an outdoor cell in 2023 after being left without water or shade as temperatures reached 96 F (35.6 C). He was taking medications that complicated body temperature regulation, and his death was attributed to heat exposure.

While prison staff have access to climate-controlled areas and resources to stay cool, inmates do not have the same protections. Some states, including North Carolina, Vermont, and Texas, are investing millions in cooling system upgrades. California estimates billions of dollars would be needed for similar changes, though proponents argue it could save on healthcare costs related to heat-related illnesses.

Experts suggest that states have the capacity to protect inmates from extreme heat, but political will and investment are crucial. Carlee Purdum, an assistant professor at the University of Houston, emphasized the need for funding, attention, investment, and collaboration between agencies and experts.