Inmates in prisons without air conditioning, especially in regions unaccustomed to extreme heat, are increasingly at risk as temperatures rise due to climate change.
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg reports for The Appeal.
In short:
- Prisons in many states lack universal air conditioning, putting inmates at serious risk during heat waves.
- Research links extreme heat with higher mortality rates in prisons, yet many heat-related deaths go unreported.
- Advocates push for improved cooling measures in prisons, but progress remains slow and inadequate.
Key quote:
“The Earth is getting hotter, and IDOC, and corrections, in general, is not adjusting, not doing anything to make sure that prisoners are safe.”
— Anthony Ehlers, incarcerated at Stateville Correctional Center
Why this matters:
Rising temperatures pose a growing threat to the health and safety of prisoners, especially in facilities unprepared for such conditions. Without intervention, the human cost will likely increase as climate change accelerates.
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