No one should be punished with frostbite or heatstroke. But right now, incarcerated people at Missouri’s Algoa Correctional Center are being forced to shovel snow in subzero weather and endure blistering heat in the summer—all while safer alternatives go unused.

During a January 2026 snowstorm, with wind chills near -20 degrees, people imprisoned at Algoa were reportedly ordered to shovel snow for hours—often in the middle of the night—while vehicles with snowplows sat idle. When one man, Spain Bady, said he was exempt due to school enrollment, he was stripped, cuffed, and thrown into an unheated segregation cell. Others said they were given broken brooms, thin gloves, and no real way to stay warm.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Last summer, a class-action lawsuit detailed how temperatures inside Algoa frequently soar over 100 degrees, especially in solitary confinement units with no air conditioning or access to fans. Those held there aren't just facing sentences—they're facing physical danger every season of the year.

These extreme conditions are not only inhumane—they may violate the constitutional rights of those in state custody. Regardless of sentence length, every person deserves protection from cruel and degrading treatment.

We are calling on Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, Department of Corrections Director Trevor Foley, and the Missouri General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Corrections to immediately:

• Launch an independent investigation into labor practices and disciplinary procedures at Algoa
• Suspend forced outdoor labor during life-threatening weather conditions
• Fund climate safety upgrades—including cooling systems and winter gear
• Ensure that grievances about unsafe working conditions are reviewed promptly and without retaliation

We’re asking for basic human dignity and safety.