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As Climate Change Worsens, Deadly Prison Heat Is Increasingly an Everywhere Problem

Summary

As climate change drives more extreme heat waves across the U.S., prisoners in states with traditionally milder climates are now facing life-threatening conditions similar to those in the South and Southwest. A survey by The Appeal reveals that many of the hottest states lack air conditioning in most prison housing units, exacerbating the risk of heat-related deaths. Despite calls for improved conditions, including air conditioning, many prisons provide minimal relief, leaving incarcerated people vulnerable. The situation highlights the collision of climate change and mass incarceration, with a growing urgency for systemic reforms to protect prisoners.

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