A federal judge is considering a decision on whether to mandate air conditioning inside Texas prisons. Advocacy organizations have argued that the state's efforts to reduce heat inside its prisons during the summer months have not been sufficient. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has maintained that it has made efforts to address the issue.
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Media Coverage · April 26, 2026
A federal judge is considering whether to order the Texas prison system to install air conditioning, after advocacy groups argued that the current temperatures are a form of cruel and unusual punishment. Inmates have reported temperatures reaching as high as 149 degrees, which the groups claim violates their Eighth Amendment rights. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has maintained that it has taken steps to
newspaper Read articleA decision whether to mandate air conditioning inside Texas prisons is in the hands of a federal judge, as advocacy organizations try to force the state to address what they allege are dangerous, deadly temperatures inmates endure. For years leading up to the two-week trial in Austin, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice says it has made efforts to mitigate heat inside its prisons during the summer months. However, inmates’ advocates and lawyers say those efforts haven’t gone far enough: Tem
Open original open_in_newFederal judge weighs mandating air conditioning in Texas prison system
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A federal judge is considering whether to order the Texas prison system to install air conditioning, after advocacy groups argued that the current temperatures are a form of cruel and unusual punishment. Inmates have reported temperatures reaching as high as 149 degrees, which the groups claim violates their Eighth Amendment rights. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has maintained that it has taken steps to reduce the heat.
A decision whether to mandate air conditioning inside Texas prisons is in the hands of a federal judge, as advocacy organizations try to force the state to address what they …
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