“I felt intimidated and extremely hot”: Mock Prison Cell Event Sheds Light on Extreme Temperatures
By Sonora Bostian-Posner
Many parts of the U.S. are experiencing a heat wave this week. As the temperature rises, I can’t help but think about how people in prison face terrible heat-related conditions.
Earlier this year, Florida Cares, a partner organization with FAMM, held an event to raise awareness about the dangerous heat conditions in prisons and jails. They brought a mock prison cell that was the same size as a standard one, and invited participants to stay inside of it to see how hot it could get — and how quickly.
Many of the event’s participants left the cell with their views changed drastically on just how bad it is for people incarcerated in these overheated cells day in and day out with no relief. In particular, a group of students from the University of South Florida shared their thoughts with Florida Cares, which are highlighted below:
I experienced a combination of emotions when stepping into the mock prison cell. I felt intimidated and extremely hot. The tiny grey box, small metal beds, and two trunks for belongings were not the slightest bit welcoming. I felt degraded by the conditions presented in front of me. It felt extremely weird when returning to my apartment with air conditioning, a clean bed and clothes, a washer and dryer, a pantry of food, and a full bathroom with a closing door.
Stepping into the mock prison cell almost made me feel a sense of panic. I could not imagine spending years of my life confined to that space. The ethical issue I most felt when contemplating the treatment of incarcerated individuals was the lack of air conditioning in a state like Florida. The cell was very hot, and the weather on Wednesday [April 24] was nowhere near as miserable as it gets later in the summer months.
The ethical considerations that come to light when considering the living conditions of inmates [are], is their environment necessary? Is it necessary to put them in a room that is the size of the pantries in large houses? Is it necessary to have that room have no air conditioning or air ventilation, especially in states where there are warm climates?
After seeing firsthand a view into the living conditions of prisoners, I question the ethical foundation of housing them in this way. They are forced to live in essentially [concrete] ovens with no alternatives to seek cool air. They are not allowed to purchase personal fans and have no access to cool or moving air. They are confined to cells where they practically have to beg for basic essentials such as toilet paper, and are forced to pay out of pocket for thing such as toothpaste, deodorant, and shampoo, with no other options.
The experience forced many people to question their thoughts on imprisonment and the lengths we go as a society to push imprisoned people out of sight and mind. However, we can’t wait until we’re literally roasting in a mock prison cell to care about this issue — we need to take action now to improve prison conditions in Florida and around the United States.
FAMM frequently asks its members to contact lawmakers in support of better prison conditions. Consider joining us to receive these alerts as soon as we have them.
Brian Rudolph (Digital Communications Manager) contributed to this story.
Sonora Bostian-Posner is FAMM’s Director of Digital Communications and Fundraising.
