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<p>As the <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/us-heat-wave-latest-forecast/story?id=101624604" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ongoing heatwave</a> makes headlines for raging through the United States, inmates all over the country are &#8220;cooking&#8221; in prison cells that lack air conditioning.</p>
<p>In an effort to call attention to what&#8217;s going on within these cells, a formerly-incarcerated man named <strong>Calvin Johnson</strong> is describing some of the methods he and inmates used to keep cool during his 37-year stint in a Texas prison.</p>
<h5 style="text-align: center;">RELATED: <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/lawsuit-alleges-alabama-inmate-literally-baked-to-death-in-overheated-prison-cell/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lawsuit Alleges Alabama Inmate &#8216;Literally Baked To Death&#8217; In Overheated, 130-Degree Prison Cell</a></h5>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Former Inmate Recalls Seeing Men Pass Out &#8220;From The Heat&#8221;</h3>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66274629" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC News</a>, the 67-year-old shed light on one method he utilized &#8220;a bunch of times,&#8221; which involved clogging the cell toilet to &#8220;lay in the water.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Sometimes you can clog the commode and let the water run. Put your pants and your shirt across that, and lay in the water for a while.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>Johnson added, <em><strong>&#8220;People passed out from the heat. I&#8217;ve seen that many times.&#8221;</strong></em></p>
<p>The publication notes that, of the 100 prisons affiliated with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ), only 31 are entirely air-conditioned. While 55 have partial air conditioning, 14 have none at all.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">At Least 23 Texas Prisoners Reportedly Died From Mid-June To Mid-July</h3>
<p>With this information in mind, it&#8217;s important to call attention to how inmates are currently faring with 2023&#8217;s <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/summer-of-record-breaking-heat-paints-story-of-a-warming-world-scientists-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">record-breaking heat</a>.</p>
<p>According to a Jul. 18 report by <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/18/texas-prisons-heat-deaths/#:~:text=This%20year%2C%20since%20mid%2DJune,death%20reports%20and%20weather%20data." target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Texas Tribune</a>, at least 23 inmates died since mid-June as outside temperatures soared into the triple-digits. Family members responded by calling for Gov. Greg Abbott (R.) to initiate immediate legislation to cool down the prisons.</p>
<p>In fact, the publication notes one grieving mother as declaring, <strong><em>&#8220;They’re cooking our babies alive!&#8221;</em></strong></p>
<p>In response to these comments, TDCJ spokesperson <strong>Amanda Hernandez </strong>told BBC News, &#8220;Everyone has access to ice and water.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Fans are strategically placed in facilities to move the air. Inmates have access to a fan and they can access air-conditioned respite areas when needed.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>On the flip side, <strong>Clifton Buchanan </strong>— a former correctional officer serving as a deputy director for AFSCME Texas Corrections, which represents TDCJ employees — called attention to how the conditions impact both inmates and officers.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Everything inmates suffer from, we do as well.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>After noting that employees are &#8220;working in an inferno,&#8221; Buchanan questioned, <strong><em>&#8220;Does one of our staff have to die before they will put AC there?&#8221;</em></strong></p>
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