Extreme Heat Reaches 100°F in US Prisons, Raising Suicide Rates 23%; California Spends $246 Million, Needs $6 Billion

Extreme heat is creating hazardous conditions inside United States prisons, where overcrowded, concrete facilities amplify temperatures, sometimes reaching 100°F in California during summer months. Many prisons lack effective cooling systems, posing serious health risks to over a million incarcerated individuals and staff. The design of prisons prioritizes security over comfort, which exacerbates the dangers during heatwaves. Climate change is intensifying these heatwaves, while aging prison infrastructure struggles to cope. Reports indicate that suicide rates increase nearly 23% in the days following extreme heat events in these facilities. Prison employees also face working conditions that exceed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommended indoor temperatures, though these regulations do not apply to them. Efforts to address the issue face political opposition, hindering progress. California has allocated $246 million to mitigate extreme heat in its prisons but estimates that $6 billion is necessary to adequately address the problem. The extreme heat in prisons raises concerns about cruel and unusual punishment under current conditions.