Federal Judges in prisoners in prisoners in prisons without air conditioning did not stop ordering repair before the summer in what has become the greatest lawsuits of security during dangerous extreme heat.
But the American District Judge Robert Pitman Warnings in Texas to operate after they were able to resend elsewhere in the United States where similar challenges are attended by lawyers in the leadership of Texas and other pronouns.
Texas is just one of several countries, mostly in the south, faced with lawsuits due to prison conditions when temperatures often increase above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 Celsius). In LouisianaThe group of men closed in the State Prison again asked the Federal Judge to take steps to protect the prisoners to work in open agricultural work in danger heat.
“Texas is the largest prison system in the country and the judge considered to behave an unconstitutional manner and indifferent to dangerous conditions,” Jeff Edwards, the Chief Lawyer in the Texas case.
“Every manager and the leader of the criminal system will be aware of,” Edwards said. “Sends an amazing powerful message.”
The Texas case will not have powers over prisons in other countries. But Corene Kendrick, Deputy Director of the National Prison Prison Cover, said the judge will be significant for lawsuits with the same extreme heat, limited, or without air conditioning and inmates at risk of dying.
“The impact is,” Kendrick said.
Texas has more than 130,000 people in prisons. Only about a third of approximately 100 prison units are completely air conditioned, and the rest have partially or no electric cooling.
The lawsuit was initially submitted in 2023. Bernie Tiede, a former mortar who serves a life sentence whose murder’s case inspired the film “Bernie”. Then he requested several groups for prisoners’ rights to join the legal struggle and expand.
Several people prevailed in Texas testified that the prisoners would lie to suicide attempts to move to colder medical areas, while some would set fire to keep gardens to hose cells.
Texas officers admitted that the heat may have been a factor a handful of deaths in 2023. years, but the dispute claims that the impact was far higher. On Thursday, the Texas Department for the Criminal Justice said that he asked for 118 million dollars for the installation of air conditioners for about 16,000 beds.
“TDCJ is dedicated to continuing to add air-conditioned beds in our facilities,” said the agency.
In Louisiani, the Federal Judge ordered prison officials to increase the shaded areas, arrange additional breaks, provide sunscreen and medical checks on those particularly vulnerable to high temperatures.
But the order did not exclude work on the former slaveboard when the heat indices reach 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31.1 degrees Celsius) or more, requested by plaintiffs.
The judge order has expired and a group of prisoners have applied a new request for assistance.
“As we enter the summer season in Louisiana, the state continues to force closed people to work in the fields of the former plantation, under the extreme risk related to the heat,” Samantha Pourciau, the older lawyer to secure the judiciary initiative.
The Louisiana Correction Department did not immediately answer the comment immediately.
Federal lawsuit in New Mexico The statement of eight prisoners were closed for hours in the crowd summer heat in prison transport without a working air conditioner. In GeorgiaPrison officials face the federal lawsuit from the person’s family who said he died after he stayed in an outdoor cell without water, a hue or ice in July 2023. years.
The case of Texas will continue towards the trial, where the judge warned the probability status to be ordered to spend billions for installing a permanent air conditioner.
Texas legislature is in the session and currently writing a two-year state budget. Lawmakers filed at least three laws that would provide little relief.
Temperatures grow as texas summer approaches. Some areas of the state have already struck above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius).
“I’m sorry we can’t protect them by facilitating this summer,” Edwards said. “But we’re moving as soon as we can.”
___ Associated Press Journalists Sara Cline in Baton RougeLouisiana, Kate Brumback in Atlanta, Morgan Lee Santa Fe, New Mexico and Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix contributed.