A federal judge has delivered a major ruling on the sweltering conditions inside Texas prisons, calling the extreme heat "plainly unconstitutional." However, despite acknowledging the inhumane conditions that prisoners face, the judge stopped short of ordering the state to immediately install air conditioning—a move that could potentially cost billions. While this decision marks a victory for prisoner advocates, the fight for relief isn’t over yet.
The Legal Battle: A Step Toward Change
The lawsuit, which was first filed in 2023 by Bernie Tiede—a former mortician serving a life sentence and whose case inspired the movie Bernie—gained significant traction as multiple prisoners’ rights groups joined in. Their argument is simple but powerful: the heat inside Texas prisons amounts to cruel and unusual punishment, violating the Eighth Amendment.
Texas is infamous for its blistering summers, where temperatures routinely exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). Within the prison walls, conditions can become even more unbearable. While some prison units have partial cooling, the majority either lack air conditioning entirely or have limited cooling mechanisms. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice houses over 130,000 incarcerated individuals—more than any other state—and yet, only about a third of its roughly 100 prison units are fully air-conditioned.
Jeff Edwards, the lead attorney representing prisoners and advocates, didn’t hold back in his reaction to the ruling. “We proved our case,” he stated, emphasizing that the court acknowledged the state’s failure to protect incarcerated individuals. He described the decision as “step one in changing the Texas prison system.” Still, Edwards expressed frustration over the lack of immediate relief. “I’m regretful we can’t protect them this summer with temporary relief, but we will move as fast as we can.”
The Harsh Reality Inside Texas Prisons
The brutal heat inside Texas prisons isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s deadly. A 2022 study by researchers from Brown, Boston, and Harvard universities found that between 2001 and 2019, 13% (or 271) of deaths in Texas prisons lacking universal air conditioning may be directly linked to extreme heat. That number is expected to climb as climate change exacerbates extreme weather patterns.
Formerly incarcerated individuals have shared harrowing testimonies of their desperate attempts to survive the oppressive heat. Some prisoners resort to splashing toilet water on themselves, faking suicide attempts to be moved to cooler medical areas, or even setting fires in their cells so that guards are forced to spray them down with water. In the worst cases, the lack of air conditioning has turned a prison sentence into a potential death sentence.
In a particularly shocking case from Georgia, a lawsuit filed in July 2023 alleged that a man died after being left in an outdoor cell for hours with no access to water, shade, or ice. Texas is not alone in facing legal challenges over dangerously hot prisons—Louisiana and New Mexico are also dealing with similar lawsuits.
The Judge’s Ruling: A Warning to Texas Lawmakers
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman didn’t mince words in his ruling. He stated that the treatment of prisoners in Texas is “plainly unconstitutional” and that the extreme heat “is likely serving as a form of unconstitutional punishment.” Yet, despite this strong condemnation, he declined to order immediate air conditioning installation. The reasoning? A project of that scale—costing potentially billions—simply couldn’t be completed within the 90-day timeframe of a temporary injunction.
Instead, Pitman suggested that a long-term solution would be better addressed in a full trial. He warned Texas officials that they are likely to lose the case and could eventually be forced to install air conditioning across the entire prison system. His ruling also pointed to the Texas Legislature, which is in session through May, noting that lawmakers have the power to mandate air conditioning installation.
However, this isn’t the first time the issue has been raised in the Legislature. For years, the Republican-majority state government has ignored complaints about extreme heat in prisons. In 2018, Texas was forced to install air conditioning in one unit for older and medically vulnerable prisoners, but broader reform has remained elusive.
Texas Officials Respond
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has remained relatively quiet in the wake of the ruling, with officials declining to comment. However, Director Bryan Collier previously acknowledged that heat was a factor in at least three deaths in 2023. He also admitted that both inmates and staff frequently suffer heat-related illnesses.
Despite this, the state continues to dispute the severity of the problem. Officials argue that Texas has implemented various heat mitigation strategies, such as providing fans, towels, and designated respite areas where inmates can cool off. But prisoner advocates say these measures are woefully inadequate, especially as Texas summers become more extreme.
Collier himself has expressed support for air conditioning in prisons, stating that he would like to see it installed system-wide. However, he insists that lawmakers have never allocated the necessary funding to make it happen. Without legislative backing, prisoners remain at the mercy of brutal summer temperatures.
What Comes Next?
With the judge’s ruling in place, all eyes are now on the upcoming trial, where advocates will push to force Texas to take action. The judge’s warning suggests that a long-term victory is likely, but in the meantime, prisoners will continue to endure life-threatening heat conditions.
The broader question remains: Will Texas lawmakers finally act? Given the years of inaction, the prospect of immediate reform seems uncertain. However, with mounting legal pressure and growing public scrutiny, the state may soon have no choice but to address the crisis.
Jeff Edwards put it bluntly: “It’s sad that it takes a federal court to come in and change things. This is not a Spanish galley in the 1600s. This is 2025.”
For now, the fight continues, and the lives of thousands of incarcerated Texans hang in the balance.
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