Federal Judge Declares Texas Prison Heat Conditions Unconstitutional, No Immediate AC Mandate
A federal judge has ruled that extreme heat in Texas prisons is unconstitutionally harsh, yet stopped short of mandating immediate air conditioning installation, which could potentially cost billions of dollars. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman acknowledged the "plainly unconstitutional treatment" of incarcerated individuals, recognizing the dangerous heat conditions that routinely exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. However, he declined to order immediate cooling system installations, citing logistical and financial challenges. The lawsuit, initially filed by Bernie Tiede—a former mortician whose murder case inspired the movie "Bernie"—argues that the extreme heat constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Several prisoners' rights groups subsequently joined the legal action, expanding its scope. Currently, Texas houses over 130,000 prisoners, with only about one-third of approximately 100 prison units fully air-conditioned. The remaining facilities have partial or no electrical cooling systems. Lead attorney Jeff Edwards described the ruling as […]
