I pen this petition filled with pain and worry about the situation my loved one, like numerous other inmates, finds himself in every single day at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano, California. He has frequently gone 24 hours without water, kept cooped up in his cell with hot black-soot filled air circulating from the vents. His physical health deteriorates in the scorching heat and dry conditions, while his mental health diminishes through the relentless stress and inhumane living conditions. I fear that my loved one might become the next victim of a mounting problem that already led to numerous preventable deaths in the facility.

The extreme heat is an eminent and serious issue for all inmates, a clear violation of basic human rights, and contrary to established standards for humane treatment. Kern Valley State Prison is currently failing their incarcerated people, forcing them to endure dangerous levels of heat and dehydration. As a solution, every inmate must be given water daily to prevent dehydration and an HVAC system must be installed to regulate the temperature within the prison.

Therefore, we call upon the appropriate authorities to acknowledge this grave concern and take immediate measures. Inmates are humans too and deserve to be treated as such. Take a stand now for humane prison conditions. Please sign this petition to ensure our loved ones have access to daily water and adequate cooling inside Kern Valley State Prison.