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Extreme temperatures take deadly toll on people in Texas prisons, study finds (Go Texas!)
Medical Xpress / Brown University / JAMA Network Open ^ | Nov. 4, 2022 | Carl Dimitri / Julianne Skarha et al

Posted on 11/06/2022 1:41:59 PM PST by ConservativeMind

The U.S. has the world's largest population of prisoners, and Texas holds more incarcerated people than any other state. As climate change continues to increase the severity, frequency and duration of heat waves, the approximately 160,000 individuals in Texas prisons—as well as the people who work in these settings—come under intense physical duress in prisons without climate controls, according to a new study.

The study examined the relationship between heat exposure and mortality risks in Texas prisons, focusing on how these risks vary between prisons with air conditioning and those without it.

The researchers analyzed data gathered between 2001 and 2019 showing that 271 people died due to extreme heat exposure during that timeframe.

Even a 1 degree increase above 85 degrees Fahrenheit can elevate the daily risk of dying by 0.7%, the researchers found.

The research team combined data from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics on mortality in Texas prisons with temperature data from NASA and used a novel epidemiologic analysis to arrive at its findings. The team reported that approximately 13% of mortality during warm months may be attributable to extreme in Texas prison facilities without air conditioning.

It is important to note that while an average of 14 people died each year from heat-related causes in Texas prisons without air conditioning, not a single heat-related death occurred in climate-controlled prisons, said Julie Skarha.

"The majority of Texas prisons do not have universal air conditioning," Skarha said. "And in these settings, we found a 30-fold increase in heat-related mortality when compared to estimates of heat-related mortality in the general U.S. population."

(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: crime; prison; texas; weather
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They don’t mention the fewer prison fights, nor do they care about the guards who work in those same conditions, not lounging like prisoners in the shade under fans, who read and have ready access to food and water. Texas saves money by not using air conditioning.

For that matter, nothing is stated about construction, farm, delivery and other workers who are not guilty of any crime other than having to pay for prisoners lounging, and these workers, and plenty more, work without A/C under the actual sun, and not shade.

Screw the prisoners. Don’t commit a crime in Texas if you don’t want to lounge around in a sometimes warm prison.

1 posted on 11/06/2022 1:41:59 PM PST by ConservativeMind
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To: ConservativeMind

Just doing what the death penalty opponents refuse to do . . .


2 posted on 11/06/2022 1:45:25 PM PST by Pilgrim's Progress (http://www.baptistbiblebelievers.com/BYTOPICS/tabid/335/Default.aspx D)
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To: ConservativeMind
used a novel epidemiologic analysis

So they made it up as they went along?

3 posted on 11/06/2022 1:45:56 PM PST by PAR35
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To: ConservativeMind

Turn prisons into microwave ovens, two minutes later and poooofff.... Problem solved.


4 posted on 11/06/2022 1:46:19 PM PST by maddog55 (The only thing systemic in America is the left's hatred of it!)
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To: ConservativeMind

Move to NYC.

The know how to coddle criminals there.


5 posted on 11/06/2022 1:46:29 PM PST by Paladin2
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To: ConservativeMind

Here’s an idea.

Don’t do things that land you in prison.


6 posted on 11/06/2022 1:47:25 PM PST by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith….)
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To: ConservativeMind

But air conditioning will make climate change EVEN WORSE!


7 posted on 11/06/2022 1:51:22 PM PST by jtal (St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle ....)
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To: ConservativeMind

At Fort Bliss the Red Flag didn’t go up until the temperature was 90°F.
Texas prisoners are lucky they’re not at Angola or Cummins or Tucker.


8 posted on 11/06/2022 1:51:27 PM PST by .44 Special (Taimid Buacharch)
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To: PAR35

Yes. Another garbage article from medical express, a rag no one heard of two years ago. They delight in publishing off the wall articles that no one else will print.


9 posted on 11/06/2022 1:51:56 PM PST by Warriorposter
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To: ConservativeMind

Friend of mine (female) was a jailer at Tennesee Colony. Rough place. I used to bowhunt down there. Mosquitoes, snakes, and alligators everywhere. Plus wild hogs. And the occasional bigfoot.

She said the summers and winters down there absolutely sucked.


10 posted on 11/06/2022 1:56:41 PM PST by waterhill (Resistrain)
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To: ConservativeMind
"If you can't do the Clime' don't do the Crime."

11 posted on 11/06/2022 1:59:27 PM PST by Governor Dinwiddie (LORD, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.)
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To: ConservativeMind

Tough s***. We don’t care. Don’t commit crimes and you will not have to worry about a warm prison.


12 posted on 11/06/2022 2:16:03 PM PST by EastTexasTraveler
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To: ConservativeMind

AC isn’t a human right, sorry.

Many of these same people have no AC in their homes before they went to prison.


13 posted on 11/06/2022 2:21:01 PM PST by TexasFreeper2009
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To: jtal

that is a GREAT point! we should let the climate change nuts experiment in any way they want to prisoners!


14 posted on 11/06/2022 2:22:21 PM PST by TexasFreeper2009
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To: ConservativeMind

***an average of 14 people died each year from heat-related causes in Texas prisons without air conditioning,***

Wah. Trying to work up a tear. “Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time!”

How did Texas and Southern prisons do before air conditioning? Think about those poor criminals in the YUMA Territorial Prison back then!


15 posted on 11/06/2022 3:26:43 PM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar ( FR is on GAB! https://gab.com/groups/67851)
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To: ConservativeMind

Sorry, no sympathy for inmates.


16 posted on 11/06/2022 4:04:30 PM PST by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
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To: ConservativeMind

I have worked shutdowns in the Houston are working outside, July and August in the sun 95 plus, temp and humidity. Sometimes in full slicker suit all taped up with breathing air for first line breaks. Tell me about heat in Texas in the summertime, pouring sweat out of rubber boots. I guess it gets hotter laying around on your ass behind bars.


17 posted on 11/06/2022 4:13:48 PM PST by eastforker (All in, I'm all Trump,what you got!)
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To: Paladin2

Ask my hubby about the conditions at Fort Polk, Louisiana in the summer back in 1970’s. He has no sympathy for these criminals.


18 posted on 11/06/2022 4:42:15 PM PST by JoJo354 (I am in mourning for the United States of America.)
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To: jtal

Your comment is exactly correct!
“Activists” should be campaigning to eliminate air conditioning in all public buildings!!!


19 posted on 11/06/2022 4:44:21 PM PST by nascarnation (Let's go Brandon!)
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To: nascarnation

Can we impeach that Carrier guy?

Tear down his statues?

Call out his Whiteness?


20 posted on 11/06/2022 4:52:38 PM PST by Paladin2
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