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The Latest Breaking News from TDCJ

Most Texas prisoners don’t have AC access and it’s unclear when they will get it

Despite receiving substantial state funding to air-condition prisons in the last few years, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has stayed mum on when it will install cooling across the system.

The Texas Tribune

‘Texas has the money’: families fight for basic air conditioning in state’s prisons

The Guardian - US

A bill to air-condition all Texas prisons likely to fail again in the Senate

House Bill 3006 would have required the installation of climate control in state prison by 2032.

The Texas Tribune

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Bill requiring air conditioning in all Texas prisons wins House approval

House Bill 3006 would require the installation of climate control in state prison facilities by 2032.

The Texas Tribune

Texas bills requiring air-conditioned prisons languish despite temperatures being ruled unconstitutional

The five bills that would require complete air conditioning in state prisons haven’t had a hearing yet, and the money set for the upgrades falls short of the estimated cost.

The Texas Tribune

An Inside Look at Taser Use in Texas Prison

The sound of electricity sizzling and crackling broke the silence. To me, it looked like the electric chair was officially back in the prisons.

Texas Observer

Texas should close prisons and jails with staffing challenges, state oversight panel says

A report found up to 70% of guard positions were unfilled at some prisons. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has a 26% staff turnover rate.

The Texas Tribune

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Texas House panel may never hear Robert Roberson’s testimony after new legal move

Attorney General Ken Paxton sought to delay legal proceedings until Jan. 13 — the day before the committee disbands — even as lawmakers vowed to continue fighting to hear from Roberson.

The Texas Tribune

Attorney General Ken Paxton files motion to block death row inmate Robert Roberson from testifying

The motion escalates a tense standoff between Paxton and a bipartisan Texas House committee, which had subpoenaed Roberson to testify at the Capitol on Friday.

The Texas Tribune

Handshakes, murals and ministry: A reopened Texas prison focuses on rehabilitation

The Bartlett Unit in Williamson County will house 1,049 male inmates who will participate in educational programs aimed to help them secure a job after they’ve served their time.

The Texas Tribune

Inside the only college class in Texas to help prepare inmates for life after prison

More than 250 Texas prisoners are on the waitlist to join the Lee College reentry class. Programs like these prepare students to find jobs and help lower recidivism.

The Texas Tribune

Texas can schedule Robert Roberson’s execution — but lawmakers still expect his testimony first

Roberson was convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter in a “shaken baby” case that many say led to an innocent man’s death sentence.

The Texas Tribune

Texas Supreme Court removes temporary block to Robert Roberson’s execution

The state’s highest civil court ruled that legislators can’t use subpoenas to block death row inmates’ executions, but suggested there’s still time for Roberson to testify before a Texas House panel.

The Texas Tribune

These Texas Inmates Wrote a Book. Then the Prison System Banned It.

The government will prevent prisoners from getting TEXAS LETTERS, an anthology about experiences with solitary confinement.

Reason

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Latin Times

Texas' Prison System Could Run Out of Beds for Those Incarcerated by Late 2025, New Report Says

Moreover, some prisons in the state are operating with up to 70% of prison guard positions unfilled as shortages continue

The Texas Tribune

Texas prison system’s staffing crisis and outdated technology endanger guards and inmates

A new state report says the prison population will outgrow capacity by the end of next year.

Texas Observer

Solidarity from Solitary and Beyond

Texans are organizing inside and outside of prisons to empower incarcerated workers, who labor in dangerous conditions without pay.

Latin Times

Staffing shortages makes it harder for Texas inmates to deal with extreme indoor heat conditions, critics say

Currently, about 24% of the 24,112 correctional officer positions in Texas prisons are vacant

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The Texas Tribune

Texas’ prison guard shortfall makes it harder for inmates to get reprieve from extreme indoor heat, critics say

About 25% of Texas’ correctional officer positions are unfilled. Inmates say the shortages make it harder for them to get respite during hot summer months.

The Guardian - US

‘It’s torture’: brutal heat broils Texas prisons, killing dozens of inmates

Legal action aims to force criminal justice department to air condition prisons, where 85,000 are at risk of heat illnesses

Texas Observer

When Summer Heat Hits My Texas Prison

High temperatures and scarce air conditioning cause tempers to flare for prisoners and guards alike.

Texas Observer

Waiting Out the Storm in Prison

Incarcerated Texans describe conditions in prison following Hurricane Beryl.

Texas Observer

Texas’ Plantation Prisons: Inside a 200-Year History of Forced Labor Shrouded in Secrecy

Punishments, injuries, and deaths—including from heat—on TDCJ farms are more hidden than they were in the years following convict leasing.

Texas Observer

Taking Prison to Court: Fighting for the Right to Sleep

Michael Garrett sued the Texas Department of Criminal Justice more than a decade ago, and he’s working from inside to keep the case alive.

The Texas Tribune

When Texas jails issue tablets, it comes at cost for inmates and families

A handful of Texas jails have issued electronic tablets to inmates. Counties can make money off their use.

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