The Texas A & M Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center has scrutinized the heat mitigation policies used by the Texas Criminal Justice Department.
According to the report, only 30% of Texas prison units are fully air-conditioned, and Texas is one of 13 states without universal air conditioning in state prisons.
“There are 100 TDCJ units, 31 full AC, 55 partial AC, 14 no AC,” Texas Department of Criminal Justice Amanda Hernandez, director of communications, emailed CNN. Told. “We have taken a number of precautions to mitigate the effects of high temperatures on people imprisoned in the facility,” she added.
This department manages inmates in state prisons, state prisons, and private correctional facilities contracted with the state.
“The rise in annual temperatures in Texas and the increase in days above 100 degrees Celsius will continue to exacerbate the deterioration of the health of both imprisoned people and staff,” the report warned.
J. Curly Purdham, a research assistant professor at Texas A & M University, presented the findings of the report to Texas lawmakers last week during a testimony by the Texas House Budget Committee.
“It’s a really dangerous situation because our prison doesn’t have air conditioning,” Purdham said. “A heat wave like this summer can have disastrous consequences.”
According to the report, heat-related deaths of at least 23 imprisoned people have been recorded since 1998, and in 2018, “ at least 79 imprisoned people and prison personnel were reported from January to October. In the meantime, he reported a fever-related illness. “
The heat-related illnesses listed in the report include heat stroke or heat exhaustion, fainting, dyspnea, nausea or vomiting, disorientation, convulsions, and rash.
Hernandez told CNN that state facilities are taking steps to keep prisoners safe during periods of high fever.
“Like Texas people who don’t have air conditioning in their homes, the department is taking various steps to keep prisoners safe. Everyone has access to ice and water. Fans move the air. It is strategically located in the facility for the facility. It has access to fans and, if necessary, an air-conditioned rest area, “says Hernandez.
“Some prisoners are aware that age, health, or medication may increase their risk of heat-related illness,” Hernandez added. Identified by an automatic heat sensitivity score that uses information from health. Records. Individuals with a heat sensitivity score are preferentially placed in air-conditioned residential areas. “
Despite the status quo of their facility, Hernandez said authorities have promised to do everything possible to keep staff and prisoners safe.
Joe Sutton and Rebekah Riess of CNN contributed to this report.
Source: www.cnn.com
