Judge Orders Better Heat Protections for Louisiana Inmates

A federal judge has told Louisiana State Penitentiary officials they must enhance protective measures for inmates laboring under intense heat. A Thursday order from US District Judge Brian Jackson builds upon his July ruling, though this one references photos of detainees in a field with a single pop-up tent for shade and no proper seating. The images were supplied by advocacy group Voice of the Experienced, which sued over the working conditions on the "farm line" at the prison in Angola.

Judge Jackson criticized Louisiana's resistance to implementing "meaningful changes" and demanded immediate enhancements, including extra tents, proximity to work areas, seating, and mandated 15-minute breaks for every 45 minutes of labor when heat alerts are in play. He did not, however, order farm line work stopped in the event of heat alerts. Between July 2 and August 5, fifty inmates reported heat-related health issues, with seven needing emergency care. The state corrections department has yet to comment on the judge's recent directives. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)