Extreme Heat and Neglect: A Lethal Combination in U.S. Prisons

Doug McIntyre of Climate Crisis 247 discusses the severe impact of extreme heat on the 2 million incarcerated individuals in the U.S., particularly in southern states like Texas. With most of the 4,000 incarceration facilities lacking air conditioning, around 12,000 inmates have died from heat-related issues in the past 20 years. As temperatures rise, this situation is expected to worsen. McIntyre highlights the systemic neglect of incarcerated individuals, pointing out that they are often seen as less than full citizens, leading to insufficient investment in their well-being. This neglect, compounded by climate change, results in higher death rates among the imprisoned population.