Democrats urged GOP House Oversight Chair James Comer to investigate dozens of prison deaths likely caused by heat.
“This refusal to implement necessary cooling mechanisms, however, places both inmates and staff at risk for severe heat-borne illnesses, nausea, dizziness, and even death,” the lawmakers went on., at least 41 people have died while incarcerated in Texas prisons this summer, with 12 people dying of cardiac arrest or heart failure and the remaining 29 dying of unknown causes. That number is likely an undercount, as Texas prisons have up to 30 days to report the death of any incarcerated person.
Advocates for incarcerated people and family members of the deceased say the deaths are likely the result of excessive heat and subpar conditions in prisons.analysis examined deaths that took place “in uncooled prisons on days when the regions’ outdoor heat indices were above 100 degrees.”last month found that 135 deaths have occurred in Texas Department of Criminal Justice prisons since June 1.
TDCJ hasn’t attributed any of this year’s deaths to heat, and claims no one has died in prison due to excessive heat since 2012. Even in prisons in which some areas are air-conditioned, it’s likely that incarcerated people are still suffering from the heat, as air-conditioned areas are not always available due to short staffing at prisons, an anonymous prison official toldFamily members of incarcerated people who have died or suffered as a result of improper temperature management in prisons have also called for action.that he reported “wak[ing] up gasping for air like somebody is suffocating him or sitting on his chest.
Speaking at a rally regarding prison conditions in July, Tona Southards Naranjo, who says her son died in prison this year due to excessive heat, blasted the state for not doing more to protect people who are incarcerated.
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