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Posted on 09/23/2026 11:13:32 AM PDT by DFG
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered Texas to install air conditioning in all of its prisons, saying that inmates in lockups without it are being given punishments that violate their constitutional rights.
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman said in the 150-page order that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice must come up with a plan to install air conditioning by the end of 2029 in every prison in the state where summer heat routinely soars above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius).
He ruled that a lack of air conditioning violates the constitutional right not to be given “cruel and unusual punishments.”
“Witnesses in this case who had been incarcerated in un-air-conditioned Texas Department of Criminal Justice prisons described themselves and their fellow inmates getting sick, passing out, and reaching a level of desperation to cool off that made it ‘common’ to splash toilet water on themselves,” Pitman wrote in the ruling.
“These are not humane conditions.”
The ruling said that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has estimated that systemwide air conditioning would cost about $1.5 billion.
The agency did not immediately comment on the ruling Tuesday.
It has previously said it is dedicated to continuing to add air-conditioned beds in its facilities.
The lawsuit was initially filed in 2023 by Bernie Tiede, the former mortician serving a life sentence whose murder case inspired the movie “Bernie.”
Several prisoners’ rights groups then asked to join his legal fight and expand it.
In 2025, Pitman found that the extreme heat in Texas’ prisons was “plainly unconstitutional,” but declined at that time to order the state to immediately start installing air conditioning.
The case then went to trial earlier this year.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
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Add 100% air exchange every 30 mins and skip the AC.
Hmmm. Now judges now involved in prison design.
Will they be involved in nutritional standards and meals too?
What did John Roberts say recently about judges needing to be immune from personal criticism?
Since when does a federal judge have any say over state facilities....no matter what they are?
From what I’ve heard, prisoners with people putting money on their books often have television, Playstations and most of the food you can get at a supermarket. Why shouldn’t they get A/C - prison sounds like Section 8 housing, and is possibly less dangerous.
Back n 1783 when the Constitution was ratified, all our prisons had air conditioning as a constitutional right. [/s]
I didn’t know they had air conditioning when the Constitution was written.
It must be cruel and unusual punishment to live in Texas.
The pos William Wayne Justice started this back in the 70’s when he forced the prison system under federal review. May he rot in hell.
I wonder where all these AHOLE judges where hiding when Biden could not fulfill the duties of his Presidency and his staff was illegally filling in for him?
uhhh carbon footprint?
People are sentenced to confinement as punishment, not for punishment.
did he order the money to magically appear ?
The judge is way out of bounds.
“From what I’ve heard, prisoners with people putting money on their books often have television, Playstations and most of the food you can get at a supermarket.”
I think a lot of that depends on the facility.
In Florida 75% of state prisons have no air conditioning.
I’ve seen canteens in several Florida prisons first hand and although there are many upgrades from the food and beverages the prison supplies, it’s certainly not a lot of food you have access to at grocery stores.
A lot of carbs, chips and sugar is what I saw.
I never saw any TVs or video games. What I did see began to get implemented was limited and supervised internet access.
Define ‘air conditioning’............
Thanks, never knew that.
Betcha the judge didn’t take any testimony from roofers, construction and oil field workers, landscapers, meter maids, etc.
As a now-retired correction officer in a non-AC prison, I’d like to see this as an incentive...newbies and trouble-makers go to the non-AC side of the prison, inmates who can behave go to the AC side. Newbies are quickly sorted out and are transferred over when staff determines the inmate just wants to do his time peacefully.
So does the average citizen get to demand their “right” to AC provided by the gov’t?
Our judges are absolutely insane. Texas should be building tent cities a la Joe Arpaio. Tell the judges to go fly a kite.
Ah, a gay Obama judge...
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