Federal Judge Mandates Air Conditioning in All Texas Prisons by 2029
A federal judge has ordered Texas to accelerate its plan to install air conditioning in all state prisons, setting a deadline of the end of 2029. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman of the Western District of Texas issued the ruling, emphasizing that financial considerations will not be a legitimate reason for non-compliance. This decision comes after inmate advocates argued that the state's current pace for installing AC is too slow, contributing to at least two dozen heat-related deaths. Judge Pitman stated that the current rate of installation would take another 23 years, potentially longer with inmate population growth. He also found that failed heat mitigation strategies, such as cold showers and respite rooms, demonstrate 'deliberate indifference' to the dangers posed by summer heat in un-air-conditioned prisons, violating the Eighth Amendment against cruel and unusual punishment. The state's proposed two-phase plan to complete AC installation by the end of 2031 was rejected, as testimony indicated no ...
