Federal Judge Declares Extreme Heat in Texas Prisons Unconstitutional, Case Moves to Trial

The ruling stops short of mandating immediate air conditioning installation, leaving systemic changes unresolved as lawmakers face mounting pressure.

U.S. District Judge Robert Pittman ruled that extreme heat in Texas prisons violates constitutional protections but declined to order immediate air conditioning installation due to logistical and financial constraints.
The decision allows the lawsuit, which seeks systemic reforms for all uncooled prison facilities, to proceed to trial, with a proposed timeline for legal proceedings due by April 10.
Approximately 85,000 inmates remain in facilities without adequate cooling, with temporary heat mitigation measures criticized as insufficient by advocates.
The Texas Legislature, which has historically failed to allocate funding for prison air conditioning, is considering several bills this session to address the issue but has yet to take action.
Studies link extreme heat in uncooled prisons to inmate deaths, with advocates emphasizing the growing risks from climate change and calling for urgent reform.