Think it’s hot? Try being in prison.
More than 80 per cent of the world’s population (6.5 billion people) were exposed to at least one day of extreme heat in July.
(Photo by Jarosław Kwoczała on Unsplash)
Less than halfway through the summer of 2023, the number of heat-related deaths in the United States continues to grow.
People are dying from direct contact with scorching pavement. Others are suffering from heat stroke, hypothermia, and dehydration.
Now, a new report warns that more than 80 per cent of the world’s population (6.5 billion people) were exposed to at least one day of heat in July, where the temperature was at least three times more likely to be caused by climate change.
The harrowing statistics come from Climate Central, a non-advocacy, non-profit science and news organization based out of New Jersey that analyzed data from 4,700 cities and 200 countries.
"Human-caused climate change influenced July temperatures for the vast majority of humanity," Dr. Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central, said in a Monday statement. "Across the entire planet, the average person was exposed to 11 days in which carbon pollution made the local temperature at least three times higher. Virtually no place on Earth escaped the influence of climate change last month."
According to The Guardian, heat has become "the leading weather-related cause of mortalities in the US," with residents being eight times more likely to die from extreme heat than a hurricane.
The article warned that experts are concerned that 2023 could set a new high heat-related death toll.
On Tuesday alone, nearly 3,500 people in the U.S. suffered a heat-related illness. It remains unclear how many of those were fatal.
That’s why it’s all the more prudent for every prison in America to have universal air conditioning.
Where air conditioning is provided—and not provided—in American jails
What used to be "once-in-a-lifetime" is now the "new abnormal."
On July 19, the Prison Policy Initiative published a briefing that explored the effects of the climate crisis on people who are incarcerated.
The new findings, in a first-of-its-kind nationwide report, built on previous evidence published by the organization in 2019 that analyzed states where air conditioning — once a luxury and now a necessity for many — is not provided in prisons.
In the South, where temperatures can regularly surpass 100 degrees in the summertime, there are 13 states where governments have neglected to install air conditioning in prisons.
As of 2019, there is no funding for universal air conditioning in detention centers in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, or Virginia.
Not only is the lack of air conditioning unsafe, but prolonged exposure to extreme heat has lethal consequences. Along with dehydration and heat stroke, it affects vital organs like the kidneys, liver, heart, brain, and lungs, which the Prison Policy Initiative adds can lead to renal failure, heart attacks, and stroke.
Heat-related deaths by the numbers
While some of the most dangerous heat levels are found in the South, new evidence shows a large number of deaths are taking place in the Northeastern United States.
Led by epidemiologist Julianne Skarha, researchers analyzed the annual deaths in state prisons from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. They compared those findings with data on extreme heat events in the summertime from NASA.
Looking at statistics on deaths by suicide, heart disease, or death from any cause up to three days after each extreme heat event between 2001 and 2019.
Researchers found that while extreme heat had a direct correlation with suicide, it was more likely (23 per cent) to occur during the three days after the heatwave.
Doctor calls heat in youth jail ‘dangerous’ and ‘inhumane’
Two youth at a juvenile detention facility in Louisiana are taking officials to court, pursuing an injunction to remove those who are incarcerated and permanently end the practice of jailing youth there.
One of the youth being held in custody presented damning testimony about the state of care at the facility.
"My cell is incredibly small and I have no room to move," Alex A. testified. "I can’t drink the water out of the faucet because it has a color, tastes bad, and would make me sick. I worry about my mental health because I’m forced to be in these cells."
Susi U. Vassallo, who has worked with patients on Rikers Island since 1987, testified on the impact of prolonged exposure to heat on children who are incarcerated in Louisiana.
"The youth at OJJ (Office of Juvenile Justice) Angola Unit are at substantial risk of serious physical and psychological harm," Vassallo said in her exhibit, noting the greatest risk comes from allegations of confining youth in their unairconditioned cells for up to 72 hours.
With people who are incarcerated "powerless to cool themselves off," Vassallo noted temperatures have been above 88 degrees since May 21, leaving youth in conditions she called dangerous and inhumane.
"Defendants are extremely lucky that none of the youth — as far as we are able to know — have been injured due to heat exposure or engaged in desperate acts of self harm," she said.