Locked in a Hotbox: The Impact of Climate Change on the Incarcerated

Locked in a Hotbox: The Impact of Climate Change on the Incarcerated will be a critical examination of how climate change impacts people who are incarcerated. Many jails and prisons are inadequately equipped to handle extreme weather, exposing people who are confined within them to unique health vulnerabilities.

This event will highlight how the effects of climate-related events on prisons impact not only people confined in them but also people who work in them. It will describe challenges like inadequate cooling systems in the face of rising temperatures and the risks posed by natural disasters to these facilities. Addressing jail/prison infrastructure law and policy in the era of climate change, speakers will consider what policy changes at the intersection of environmental justice and prison reform would help mitigate risks and increase awareness.