A ruling in a federal trial could affect how prisons across the U.S. address the growing threat of extreme heat.
In April 2026, a federal district court in Texas heard a trial in which incarcerated individuals and advocacy groups sued the state over the lack of air conditioning in many of its prison housing areas. The court has not yet ruled in the case.
During the heat of a Texas summer, temperatures in uncooled areas of prisons can exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit – which plaintiffs argue violates the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.
As of August 1, 2026, Texas state prisons had enough beds in air-conditioned housing for fewer than half the people incarcerated.
Exposure to extreme heat can cause deadly heat stroke and can also worsen other underlying health conditions. A 2022 study found that approximately 13% of deaths in Texas prisons during warm months between 2001 and 2019 were attributable to extreme heat.
