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

Extreme heat is creating hazardous conditions inside United States prisons, where overcrowded and concrete facilities amplify temperatures, sometimes reaching 100°F during summer months. Many prisons lack effective cooling systems, putting more than a million incarcerated individuals and staff at risk. The infrastructure of these institutions, designed primarily for security rather than comfort, struggles to cope with worsening heatwaves exacerbated by climate change. Reports indicate that suicide rates increase nearly 23% following extreme heat events in prisons. California has allocated $246 million to address heat-related issues in its correctional facilities but estimates a need for $6 billion to adequately manage the problem. Additionally, prison employees often work in temperatures exceeding OSHA's recommended indoor limits, though these regulations do not apply to them. Political resistance has also hindered efforts to implement comprehensive measures to mitigate the dangers posed by extreme heat in the prison system. These conditions have raised concerns that such heat exposure could be considered cruel and unusual punishment.