Heat Wave Strikes Illinois: How Incarcerated Individuals Are Facing the Brunt of Extreme Temperatures

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Heat Wave Strikes Illinois: How Incarcerated Individuals Are Facing the Brunt of Extreme Temperatures

This summer, Illinois faces extreme heat, but those who suffer the most are often the incarcerated people in the state’s old prisons and jails.

According to social justice advocates, people in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) facilities have endured dangerous conditions for years. Last year, a federal judge ordered the evacuation of many residents from the Stateville Correctional Center due to crumbling infrastructure.

In a letter to Governor JB Pritzker, the Uptown People’s Law Center highlighted troubling conditions in several facilities, worsened by the heat. Concerns included lack of access to clean water and fans, insufficient cooling spaces, and staff discouraging individuals from seeking medical help.

Alyssa Meurer, a staff attorney at the Uptown People’s Law Center, expressed alarm about the severe conditions. “I’m worried that people are actually going to die,” she stated, pointing out that temperatures inside could exceed 100 degrees.

Climate change continues to heighten such risks. A report forecasts that by 2053, Illinois may be part of an “extreme heat belt,” where heat indexes could reach 125 degrees Fahrenheit at least once a year. Such extreme heat poses severe health risks, leading to more deaths than hurricanes or wildfires combined, according to climate studies.

Inside Illinois prisons, the situation is dire. Many facilities lack air conditioning, and individuals often face unsanitary conditions, with limited ways to cool down. In June, the death of Michael Broadway, an inmate who suffered from asthma and heat stress, underscored these dangers.

Despite multiple warnings, the IDOC has not updated its practices to protect inmates from the heat. Meurer noted that the prisons’ aging infrastructure, some dating back to the 1800s, contributes to the problem. “These buildings aren’t equipped to handle modern climate challenges,” she explained.

Lockdowns have become more frequent post-COVID, limiting individuals’ movements and access to cooler areas. For those in solitary confinement, the conditions pose severe risks, especially for people with health issues like asthma or heart problems.

Raphel Jackson, a program manager for the Prison + Neighborhood Arts Project and a former inmate, shared his experience with oppressive heat in prisons. He recalled how minimal airflow only increased discomfort. “One fan didn’t cut it; sometimes we would need more,” he said.

New restrictions on fan sizes have also added to the struggles. Instead of being allowed multiple fans, inmates now face limits that can worsen their suffering. Meurer expressed concern that even the ice offered for relief could be contaminated due to ongoing water quality issues in prisons.

A study from The Lancet highlighted that higher temperatures can lead to increased aggression and violence. This underscores the broader implications of climate change-induced heat, which exacerbate already tense situations within the prison environment.

Moreover, many inmates express more concern for their families outside than for their own distress. Jackson remarked, “People are worried more about their loved ones living in poverty than their own conditions.”

While these systemic issues are longstanding, climate change is making them even more critical. Advocates like Meurer stress the urgent need for reform in prison conditions, particularly as extreme weather events become more common.

For more insights on climate impacts, check out [Climate Central](https://www.climatecentral.org) and [The Lancet](https://www.thelancet.com) for studies related to public health and climate change.



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