How Can They Beat the Heat When There’s No Escape?
By Sonora Bostian-Posner
I live in Northern Virginia. It’s reliably hot and humid every summer. Even though I’ve lived here most of my life, I still get exhausted by the annual conversion of the outdoors into an oven. The humidity sticks to my skin like a coat, a grime that only disappears when I experience the pleasure and privilege of central air conditioning and regular showers/baths.
I say privilege because I know that many people across the United States don’t have ways to beat the heat. A significant portion of the population can’t beat it because they are literally trapped in it — and they’re trapped there by order of the law.
A consistent issue with our nation’s prisons is a lack of air conditioning. Cells become hot boxes and people in prison get no relief from humidity, record-high temperatures, sweat, and despair. If you’ve ever sat in a car for a period of time with no AC on and the windows closed, you’ve probably felt the way heat builds quickly and without mercy in such conditions. It’s so well-known we regularly see stories on the news about children and pets dying in hot cars. Less reported, though, is people dying in prison from those same conditions.
Sadly, the conditions of prisons aren’t always highlighted because people in prison are shunned by our society. However, people serving their sentences are sentenced to serve, not to suffer. People in prison deserve basic comfort and health, including protection from the elements.
Air conditioning should be required in prisons the way it’s required across other institutions (including animal shelters). Unfortunately, it’s not. Many states, including Texas and Florida, don’t mandate air conditioning in their prison facilities.
As climate change worsens and the high and low temperatures become more extreme, we must remember our most vulnerable populations — including those behind bars. When we fight for better prison conditions, we need to include protection from the elements.
You can find multiple actions to take on behalf of people in prison — including a direct ask to Texas to enact mandatory air conditioning in prisons — on our website: famm.org/actioncenter
Sonora Bostian-Posner is FAMM’s Director of Digital Media.
