Inside Texas’s Multi‑Million Dollar Prison AC Plan

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has provided an update on the air conditioning project in institutions statewide.

It's no surprise that Texas is hot, and when you cram hundreds of people in a massive building with little to no air conditioning, you run into multiple problems. Aside from the moral issues that this poses, Texas lawmakers raised concerns surrounding the legal approach to the inhumane treatment of prisoners.

Legal Outcry for Texas Prison Air Conditioning

Take, for example, U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman who, in a recent ruling, outlined the "unconstitutional" aspect and the need to install either temporary or permanent air conditioning units in all prisons.

Because of these concerns, TDCJ recently released the latest updates on "cool beds." These are essentially prison beds located in cells with air conditioning. These numbers are a part of a larger $85M project from the 88th Texas Legislative Session.

Cool Beds in Texas Prisons

The following numbers are where Texas lays when it comes to cool beds since 2018:

Total number of cool beds available - 48,372
Number of cool beds under construction - 13,802
Number of cool beds in procurement - 2,378
Number of cool beds in design - 15,798

When it comes to actual air conditioning units, Texas currently has 35 total units that are fully equipped. 53 units are currently partially air conditioned.

Texas Prison Enhanced Heat Protocols

In addition to combatting the scorching Texas sun, TDCJ shared their heat protocols that, whether fully effective or not, are available as options to address excessive heat.

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These include specialized respite areas with cold showers, ice water available for all inmates, and frequent wellness checks (whether prison staff adhere to these wellness checks or not is aside from the fact).

Also, fans, cold towels, and electrolyte drinks are available for purchase from the unit's commissary on hot days, according to the TDCJ website.

Devastation and Courage: Images from the Texas Flood Disaster

The heartache in the Texas Hill Country is hard to put into words, but these images tell the story in a way words never could. From the flood-ravaged banks of the Guadalupe River to the brave rescue efforts in Kerr County, this gallery captures the devastation, the resilience, and the humanity in the wake of one of the deadliest floods in our state’s history.

Gallery Credit: Chaz via Getty Images