Incarcerated Workers Challenge Heat Conditions in Louisiana Prisons

In Louisiana, incarcerated workers are raising alarms over extreme heat conditions while laboring on the state penitentiary's farm line, where they earn minimal wages or none at all. Testimonies from former workers, like Gross, reveal a grim reality of short breaks and inadequate protections against soaring temperatures, leading to serious health risks. “I saw guys collapse,” he recounted, highlighting the plight of older inmates and those with disabilities who are compelled to work under these harsh conditions. In September, a class-action lawsuit was filed by several incarcerated workers, supported by the advocacy group Voice of the Experienced, seeking an end to the farm line operations. The lawsuit accuses the state of imposing cruel and unusual punishment, particularly as temperatures reached dangerous levels. An emergency court filing requested a halt to work when the heat index exceeds 88 degrees Fahrenheit, but the Louisiana corrections department opposed this, warning it could lead to widespread work stoppages across southern institutions. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately sided with the plaintiffs, emphasizing the need for immediate action. Meanwhile, major companies linked to prison farms, such as Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland, are reportedly investigating their associations following these revelations. A U.N. investigator is also expected to report on the situation, labeling it a form of modern-day slavery. Inmates have described the oppressive heat as a punitive measure, with some experiencing heat strokes and heart attacks while working. Louisiana's corrections department claims to monitor temperatures and provide necessary breaks, but many inmates argue that these measures are insufficient to protect their health.