Inmates Face 'Torturous' Conditions Amid NJ Heat Wave

NEW JERSEY — The heat wave that swept New Jersey in August particularly impacted inmates across the state, as the majority of prisons lack air conditioning and proper ventilation.

July's heat wave prompted a temporary transfer of the women in the Bravo unit at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility in Union, where the indoor temperature reached a stifling 93 degrees, according to NJ Spotlight News.

After complaining about the heat, the women were moved to William H. Fauver Youth Correctional Facility, which is a men's facility in Clinton that was shut down last year.

Lydia Thornton, the co-chair New Jersey Prison Watch, told Patch that 60 women were moved to the men's facility a few months ago while construction was being conducted on the maximum security wing at Mahan.

Thornton explained that "A Cottage," where the women were moved, had air conditioning added to it when the Department of Corrections acquired the "Puppies Behind Bars" program. Thornton said they the program would not allow the dogs to be in the facility unless there was air conditioning.

"[It] says a lot about how we keep our humans versus our animals," Thornton said.

Thornton said the majority of facilities in the state do not have air conditioning, especially in the older facilities that are made out of brick. For instance, she said the walls at New Jersey State Prison in Trenton "literally sweat" because of how hot it becomes.

The windows inside the single cells are also six inches wide and about three feet high, according to Thornton, but they do not open, so inmates are not receiving fresh air.

The DOC has protocols in place to help inmates when temperatures exceed 86 degrees, such as monitoring temperatures, making commercial fans or water mist fans available, increasing inmates' access to showers, fluids and ice and opening windows when appropriate, according to NJ Spotlight.

But Thornton said the large fans that the prisons use are "incredibly loud" and only "move hot air from one spot to another."

She also said giving an inmate an extra scoop of ice isn't going to cool someone down that much.

"They sell fans on commissary that are these plastic, six-inch little white fans," Thornton said. "If you use them directly on your face or your body it helps a little. But it's still torture."

The lack of air conditioning in prisons also puts a lot vulnerable people at risk of dehydration and heat stroke. Thornton said a large portion of the prison population is people over the age of 60, which includes many individuals with health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the heat.

One woman in her 60s at Mahan told NJ Spotlight News said being inside the prison while temperatures were in the high 90s outside was like being "enclosed to cook alive" and her slippers had "melted to the floor."

According to NJ Spotlight News, a portion of New Jersey State Prison dates back to 1836, East Jersey State Prison was built in 1896 and Mahan dates back to 1913.

Four of the newest facilities have air-conditioned housing units, as well as in some or all other areas. This includes the Adult Diagnostic and Training Center, Mid-State Correctional Facility, Northern State Prison and South Woods State Prison.

Gov. Phil Murphy signed the "Dignity Act" in 2020, which required the Commissioner of Corrections to look into prison conditions, especially in regards to incarcerated pregnant people.

However, Thornton said the Dignity Act has no application in this situation. She said the legislation strengthened the ability of the ombudsperson's office to conduct investigations into prison conditions, but no action was taken under the former ombudsperson.

Terry Schuster was hired a few months ago as the new ombudsperson, and Thornton said he is now faced with trying to change the culture of the Corrections Department.

New Jersey Prison Watch is made up of survivors and advocates committed to educating, legislating and organizing to "end torture in New Jersey correctional facilities."

Thornton said the extreme heat is particularly difficult for elders in prison.

"You're asking men who are in their 60s, 70s, 80s to deal with this heat year after year," Thornton said. "And we have at least three or four deaths a year from heat related illnesses."

"Healthcare is poor enough in there that 'I'm too hot' is not qualified to go see a doctor," she added.

Thornton said the officers also have it just as bad because they are also dealing with the heat while wearing heavy uniforms.

According to NJ Spotlight News, a few state courts have ruled that incarceration in extreme temperatures violates the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

However, the issue has not come before the New Jersey Supreme Court.