I’ve been asked by Randy to write a few words on how the Texas heat has affected me throughout my 16 years of incarceration. I’m sure you’ve heard all the horror stories of how hard it is to fall asleep or of how inadequate the 7inch fans that cost an arm and a leg are. Even though all that is true, another story lies within the chow hall or as I love to call it, hell’s basement. The majority of offenders must go through this due to lack of funds. We spend 2-3 hours a day in 120°-125° eat trying to eat drenched in their own sweat. When was the last time you had to wipe the sweat off your face before you take a bite of food lest a drop of it land on your spoon? Yeah that was me an hour ago.
Two fans hang on the walls to no avail. Fans mean nothing if the air is hot and the food boxes and burners proliferate our discomfort. During winter it’s so cold you have to eat bundled up with layers of clothes and Jackets.
Eight years ago I was sent to the hospital due to heat-related symptoms. The provider on that unit was not friendly and thought I was “stunting” (faking) to avoid something on the farm. I still remember how she stabbed my hand with the IV to get a response. Needless to say I was rushed to the hospital soon after.
I do give some credit to the system for trying to help. They do have respite areas set up around the unit. But it’s never used. Short of staff issues and improper training have everything to do with the failure of this life saving mythical practice.
Officers quit all the time due to heat in one way or another. Violence rises in the hotter months due to short fuses. Humidity also plays a huge roll on some units. Sometimes that’s even worse than the heat.
Here in Texas we are usually sent to prison for three reasons… Rehabilitation…. Deterrence… and Punishment.
Rehabilitation? Try taking a class in the heat. And most of our chapels are not air conditioned. And volunteers also share some of this experience with us. So this leaves either Deterrence or Punishment . The later is self-explanatory. That leaves us with Deterrence. If we must threaten people with the possibility of a slow-broiling prison sentence, how far have we really came as a society? Thanks for the ear…. and making it possible for our situations to be heard.
