Heat wave. Hot topic! Hot prisoners!

It’s dang hot these days! A widespread and dangerous heat wave is currently affecting a large portion of the United States, particularly right here in the Midwest. 

Daily we hear reports about the most vulnerable people affected by this hot weather. The focus is often on the homeless, but others include outdoor workers, pregnant women and low-come folks, especially children and the elderly. And, to their credit, many agencies and organizations are coming to their rescue. 

Sadly, there’s another segment of our society seriously affected by the heat: prisoners. We hear very little about their plight. Maybe that’s because they “deserve” what they get. This is a critical problem nationally, but also right here in Michigan. 

For example, one of our clients warns that the heat conditions at St. Louis Correctional Facility are a potential health risk. He said that “they are closing the door grates even during the heat advisory.” The Deputy Warden told HFP that it’s the prisoners’ own fault. He stated that, when allowing the prisoners to open the slots in the past there was excessive misuse and damage caused to the slots. Now they may not do it without special permission. 

An HFP client in the U.P. reports on severe heat-related issues at Baraga Correctional Facility. He stated that during extreme heat prisoners are confined to their rooms all day, with yard time reduced to just 30 minutes a day. Hallway fans are non-functional, he claimed, and, once again, prisoners are not permitted to open their door slots for ventilation, He described conditions as “dripping sweat,” with no airflow, high humidity, and temperatures in the 90s. 

Michigan prisons do not have AC,  meaning that this situation directly affects some 32,000 incarcerated men and women in our state.  In the past the MDOC has acknowledged that there is no law requiring them to provide air conditioning to all prisoners, similar to the lack of such a requirement for the general public. 

The issue of prison temperatures is a matter of life and death, not merely comfort. Regardless of what prisoners are perceived to "deserve," the state has a responsibility for their well-being while they are incarcerated. Period. 

You and I must do our part, as well. 

Prison Policy Initiative has this shameful conclusion: “… even though judges in multiple states have ruled that subjecting incarcerated people to extreme temperatures is unconstitutional, they haven’t mandated any relief measures. Public opposition to providing ‘comfortable’ carceral spaces has further compelled prison officials to do nothing about this life-or-death issue. 

“…remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if yourselves were suffering."  Hebrews 13:3 

Complacency is not an option. It’s time to speak up for our fellow brothers and sisters!

“I hate to see complacency prevail in our lives when it's so directly contrary to the teaching of Christ.”  Jimmy Carter



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