A U.S. District Judge has ruled that housing Texas prison inmates in facilities without air conditioning during extreme heat is "plainly unconstitutional." This decision, delivered by Federal Judge Robert Pitman, marks a development in a lawsuit concerning the inhumane conditions in the state’s correctional facilities.
About 85,000 inmates in Texas prisons are housed in uncooled living areas. In the summer months, temperatures can exceed 100°F, creating hazardous conditions for those incarcerated. Court documents show that at least 23 individuals died from heat-related causes in the state’s prisons between 1998 and 2012. A 2022 study found that, on average, 14 inmates die each year due to heat, with 41 deaths occurring during a heatwave in 2024.
While Judge Pitman acknowledged the severity of the situation, he chose not to mandate immediate air conditioning installation. Instead, he directed both plaintiffs and the defense to propose a timeline for further legal proceedings by April 10, signaling that the case will likely move toward a trial. Marci Marie Simmons, a former inmate and plaintiff in the case, called the decision a victory.
“This is a federal judge saying Texas is unconstitutionally housing people in these dangerous and deadly temperatures,” Simmons said. “I cried. I cried for my people on the inside.”
Multiple bills have been filed in the Texas Legislature, including House Bill 2997 and House Bill 1315, which would require air conditioning in state prisons, but none have received hearings.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has been aware of the issue for years, with some prisons, like the Wallace Pack Unit, having been retrofitted with air conditioning after a 2018 lawsuit. However, air conditioning is not yet widespread across all state prisons. In 2023, the Texas legislature allocated $85 million to install air conditioning in some units, but only a fraction of this funding has been spent, and the majority of inmates remain in uncooled facilities.
TDCJ officials argue that installing air conditioning in every unit would cost over $1.1 billion, with an additional $20 million in annual operating costs. The agency has implemented various heat mitigation measures, such as providing cold towels, respite areas, and electrolyte-rich drinks. However, these measures have been deemed inadequate by the plaintiffs, who argue that they fail to prevent heat-related illnesses and deaths.
This ruling may mark the beginning of a broader push for reform in Texas prisons. If the case proceeds to trial, it could lead to a significant shift in how the state addresses inmate safety and living conditions, particularly in the face of extreme heat.
