At Huntsville Unit, a prison situated on the edge of a vast national forest 70 miles north of Houston, the close calls increase with the heat. I’m talking about the temperaments of both inmates and guards. They worsen with the temperature.
Recently, I asked my four laundry co-workers—John, Ricky, Cliff, and Tony—about the heat. We all agreed that if we had air conditioning in our cells, there would be a lot less agitation at our prison.
Because there’s no legitimate cooling system in our cells, we’re forced to rely on alternative measures: fans, jerry-rigged A/C units, ice, cold water, and frequent showers. But those options only do so much. Huntsville Unit is 175 years old and constructed mostly of red brick. During the summer, indoor temperatures often exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I sweat all day and wake up with a soaked mattress.
