I’m sitting here sipping my coffee and reading about the latest news from Texas, where a federal judge has ordered the state to install air conditioning in all its prisons by the end of 2029. Because, you know, it’s only humane to not have people melting in their cells during the summer. The judge, Robert Pitman, said that the lack of air conditioning violates the constitutional right to not be given “cruel and unusual punishments.” I mean, who wouldn’t agree with that? It’s not like we’re talking about a five-star hotel here, but basic human decency.
The ruling was a major victory for advocates who have been fighting for years to get air conditioning in Texas prisons, where the summer heat can be absolutely brutal. I’m talking temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which is just insane. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has estimated that installing air conditioning in all its prisons would cost around $1.5 billion, which is a pretty penny. But, you know, I think it’s worth it to not have people suffering in extreme heat.
The state prison agency has already said that it will appeal the court’s decision, claiming that it has “robust heat mitigation efforts in place” and is already working on installing air conditioning in some units. But, come on, it’s not like they’re moving at lightning speed or anything. The agency says that the number of air-conditioned beds has increased from 35,000 in 2018 to an expected 60,000 by the end of this year, and that the number will reach 90,000 in 2028. That’s all well and good, but it’s not enough.
The lawsuit that led to this ruling was initially filed by Bernie Tiede, a former mortician who is serving a life sentence and whose case inspired the movie “Bernie.” Several prisoners’ rights groups then joined his legal fight, and the rest, as they say, is history. The judge’s ruling said that the state prison agency has acknowledged that 23 people died in its facilities from heat-related causes between 1998 and 2012, and that there is credible evidence of additional deaths from 2023 to 2025 that were at least in part caused by heat.
Amite Dominick, the founder and president of Texas Prisons Community Advocates, said that the ruling “made clear that the state cannot keep treating human lives as a budget line.” And, you know, I think that’s a pretty fair point. It’s not like we’re talking about a bunch of hardened criminals who deserve to suffer or anything. We’re talking about human beings who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
In the end, it’s all about basic human decency. And, you know, I think that’s something we can all get behind. So, Texas, get to work on installing that air conditioning. It’s the least you can do. And, who knows, maybe one day we’ll have prisons that are actually designed to rehabilitate people instead of just punishing them. But, hey, that’s a topic for another day. For now, let’s just focus on keeping people from melting in their cells. That’s a good start, right?
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
⚖️ ENTER THE LEGALIZER
Think the government has no idea what it's doing? Put your case before the Federal Case Terminal and find out.
