Texas Inmates Dying In Fiery Prisons: State Denies Heat As Cause

Inmates in Texas prisons are dying with body temperatures higher than 105, but the state Department of Criminal Justice keeps denying that inmates are dying because of the heat.

The Texas Newsroom reported that John Castillo, an inmate in Hughes Unit in Gatesville, died in 2023 with a body temperature of 107.5 degrees at the time of his death.

The Newsroom obtained autopsies of several inmates, including Castillo, who are part of a lawsuit against the state. The suit claims the lack of air conditioning in prisons constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Three autopsies mentioned heat as a contributing factor in the deaths of inmates, including Castillo.

However, Texas prison officials deny heat caused these deaths, attributing them to other medical issues. 

“[The Texas Department of Criminal Justice] does not count those deaths as heat deaths because the primary cause of death was due to other reasons such as underlying medical disorders, overdoses, etc.,” TDCJ spokesperson Amanda Hernandez told the Newsroom.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention warns that extreme heat can increase the probability of a heart stroke or damage to the brain and other organs. Experts argue that heat can exacerbate underlying conditions, leading to death.

Texas law mandates county jails be kept between 65 and 85 degrees, but two-thirds of state prisons lack full air conditioning or other cooling systems. With the lawsuit, inmates are seeking to have better life conditions under Texas heat.

“The definition of indifference is knowing about a problem, knowing there’s a solution and not fixing things. They know that the heat endangers inmates,” Jeff Edwards, the plaintiff’s lead lawyer said.

A 2022 study published in the National Library of Medicine found that, on average, 14 deaths per year were associated with heat in Texas prisons without AC. The study found that prisons with AC had a lower mortality rate.

Heat has killed outside Texas prisons too. After Beryl left millions without electricity, officials said that at least a dozen people died because of the heat.