Judge orders Texas to lower temperature in sweltering prison
Source: Associated Press
Michael Graczyk, Associated Press
Updated 4:39 pm, Wednesday, July 19, 2017
HOUSTON (AP) A federal judge Wednesday gave state prison officials 15 days to come up with a plan to lower the temperature to 88 degrees (31.11 Celsius) inside a Southeast Texas prison where attorneys for inmates say the sweltering summer heat is endangering their health.
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison's preliminary injunction applies to about 500 "heat-sensitive" inmates at the Pack Unit, about 65 miles (104.6 kilometers) northwest of Houston. Those prisoners, among about 1,450 held in the prison, already have a variety of health conditions or are at least 65 years old.
Attorneys for six inmates who filed suit seeking emergency relief argued the intense heat violated their constitutional right against cruel and unusual punishment. Evidence showed the heat index at the prison, the combination of temperature and humidity, topped 100 degrees during 13 days in 2016, and was between 90 and 99 degrees on 55 days. The heat index Wednesday was 104.
Texas Department of Criminal Justice officials contended they provide prisoners with showers, fans and ice water, other ventilation, unlimited rest periods in air-conditioned areas and education concerning heat precautions. The prison infirmary is air conditioned along with administrative offices, visitation areas, the education department, the barbershop and a small portion of the prison craft shop. Housing areas are not.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/texas/article/Judge-orders-Texas-to-lower-temperature-in-11300253.php
whathehell
(29,090 posts)He's not doing them any BIG favors, is he?
elleng
(131,102 posts)'the combination of temperature and humidity, topped 100 degrees during 13 days in 2016, and was between 90 and 99 degrees on 55 days. The heat index Wednesday was 104.'
barbtries
(28,811 posts)88 degrees is too hot for me.
ananda
(28,876 posts)But it won't kill you.
sammythecat
(3,568 posts)Pulling all your fingernails out with pliers isn't lethal either. 88 is more than "rather warm", it's hot. It doesn't need to be that hot. What purpose does that serve?
barbtries
(28,811 posts)if the judge had gotten expert input on the max degrees.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)"it won't kill you..."
I don't think anyone expressed the argument it would.
Igel
(35,356 posts)It's been in the mid 90s during the day, 60% humidity, so far in July. There was a freakishly cold day with a high 83 F a few weeks ago. Been hoving around 90, sometimes 89 or 92, since early June. (Note to self: Must remember to schedule that appointment to get the AC fixed.)
You get used to it. Fans, ventilation, and cold beverages. The good news it sometimes dips below 80 at night.
It could be worse. I've heard tell that in West Texas gets hot.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)"You get used to it..."
Some do get used to it, while others die from it (e.g., From 2003-2008, there were 263 deaths reported among Texas residents with exposure to excessive natural heat as the underlying cause of death).
(Source: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/chs/vstat/Hotcolddths/hotcolddths.shtm)
jmbar2
(4,906 posts)...at a hefty profit. Bastards.
LittleGirl
(8,291 posts)broadcaster90210
(333 posts)nt
Solly Mack
(90,785 posts)tblue37
(65,487 posts)Here in Kansas, where temperatures are often truly awful, until fairly recently many of the older buildings used in our local public schools did not have AC, and the kids often had to miss school because of being unable to tolerate the sweltering conditions in their classrooms.
I don't know when they added AC to the schools that were not air conditioned, but when I had kids (my own and also a bunch of daycare kids) in the schools in the 1980s and 1990s, some of the older school buildings--which were mostly used for the elementary grades--were not air conditioned. Since school starts in mid-August here, and the summer heat starts by the middle to end of May, when school is still in session, the temperatures were intolerable.