Incarcerated Workers Challenge Heat Conditions in Louisiana Prisons

In Louisiana, incarcerated workers are raising serious concerns about the harsh conditions they face while laboring on the state penitentiary's farm line. According to former inmate Gross, breaks are infrequent and inadequate, leaving workers vulnerable to extreme heat. He recounted witnessing fellow inmates collapse due to the oppressive conditions, particularly those with pre-existing health issues or disabilities. In September, a class-action lawsuit was filed by several incarcerated individuals, alongside the advocacy group Voice of the Experienced, seeking an end to the farm line and alleging cruel and unusual punishment. As temperatures soared in May, the plaintiffs filed an emergency request to halt work during extreme heat, prompting a legal battle with Louisiana's corrections department. The state argued that complying with the request would set a precedent for halting work across southern institutions. However, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately sided with the plaintiffs, emphasizing the need for protection against heat-related risks. While some companies linked to prison farms, such as Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland, are investigating their associations, a U.N. investigator is expected to report on the situation, labeling it a form of modern-day slavery. Inmates have reported that extreme heat is not only a challenge in the fields but also within prison facilities, where temperatures can exceed those outside. Louisiana's corrections department maintains that it adheres to policies designed to protect workers from heat-related illnesses, claiming to monitor conditions and provide necessary breaks.