The summer months can be brutally hot, especially in enclosed spaces such as prisons. The materials used to build prison facilities retain heat. This increases temperatures within prison buildings, often to the point of exceeding outdoor temperatures. In the summer of 2019, 1,000 inmates in the Philadelphia Detention Center, which is the city jail, were subjected to a weekend-long 100°F heat emergency without air conditioning. While the state law requires heating in Pennsylvania's correctional facilities, there is no similar requirement for cooling."Despite this, not all prisons are equipped with air-conditioning units to alleviate the heat. This lack of basic amenities puts the health and lives of inmates at risk. Heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke and dehydration are serious conditions that can lead to death if not addressed promptly.

Many prisoners take medications for high blood pressure, or psychotropic medications such as Prozac or Zoloft, which can have adverse effects in extreme heat. Certain health conditions can also make them more susceptible to heat-related illness. Older individuals are at greater risk of heart disease, and heat exacerbates cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses such as asthma.

A 2020 study found a correlation between excessive heat in prisons and a rise in inmate violence. In Mississippi prisons, it was found that on days where the average temperature was at least 80°F, the chance of violent behavior increased by 20%. Hot weather led to 44 additional incidents of severe violence annually.

Courts in Mississippi, Wisconsin and Arizona have ruled that keeping prisoners in extremely hot (or cold) temperatures violates the Eighth Amendment. These cases have not, however, led to a national policy on air conditioning in state prisons.

The American Correctional Association recommends a temperature range of 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit for inmate housing areas (source: American Correctional Association). However, without mandatory regulations requiring air-conditioning in all prisons during hot summer months, these recommendations are often overlooked.

We believe that everyone deserves humane treatment regardless of their circumstances. By making it mandatory for all prisons to have air-conditioning during the hot summer months, we ensure that inmates' basic human rights are upheld and their health is protected.

This petition calls on lawmakers in Pennsylvania to enact legislation requiring all prison facilities within the state to install and maintain functioning air-conditioning units throughout the hottest parts of the year. Sign this petition today and help us advocate for safer conditions inside our correctional facilities.

Sources Katherine Jurak Kent State University