Liberal Forum

Housing Texas prison inmates in sweltering facilities that lack air conditioning is “plainly unconstitutional,” U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman said Wednesday in a groundbreaking, 91-page ruling. The judge declined to order the Texas Department of Justice to immediately install temporary or permanent air conditioning, instead forcing the plaintiffs to move towards a trial. Pitman wrote that the case will likely move to a bench trial and that the plaintiffs and defense must submit a proposed timeline for legal proceedings by April 10.

"Plainly Unconstitutional"? Housings all together a separate issue from comfort, and creature comfort should never be the priority in housing criminals. Discomfort in fact should serve as a deterrent and be considered par for the course. Are still mill workers subjected to unconstitutional conditions, farmers, agriculture workers, Aluminum mold injection manufacturers. This judge needs be removed.

Federal judge rules prison heat conditions are unconstitutional, but doesn’t require air conditioning