Alabama Inmates Face Dangerous Heat Without Air Conditioning

In Alabama, prisons lack air conditioning, leaving inmates exposed to dangerous heat. One woman described her husband becoming dizzy and needing an IV. The state's correctional facilities operate at 160% capacity, and the Justice Department has called the conditions unconstitutional.

A 2023 study analyzing two decades of prison data found that extreme heat events correspond with increased mortality, including cardiac-related deaths and suicides, among incarcerated populations. Alabama's correctional system houses roughly 27,000 people across 14 major facilities at 160 percent capacity, with none offering universal air conditioning. Inmates reportedly cope by soaking towels in shower water, removing sweat-drenched bedding, and sleeping on metal frames or floors when exhaust fans fail.

The Justice Department's 2022 determination that Alabama prison conditions are unconstitutional has been repeatedly upheld in federal court, yet the state continues building a 4,000-bed facility using COVID relief funds. Loved ones describe receiving frantic calls about dizziness, IV treatments, and broken ventilation, illustrating the human cost behind ongoing legal battles over prison operations.