Alabama inmates face extreme heat risks at Elmore Correctional Facility

Tiffany Montellano can’t sleep after her husband Andrew was left in unbearable heat at Elmore Correctional Facility, a state prison north of Montgomery. Andrew, 31, called her during lunch two days ago after missing their usual night‑time call. He told her he was “hitting the wall” and that the temperature inside the unit had reached 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The call left Montellano worried that his condition could worsen.

The heat wave that has engulfed Alabama for the past week is part of a broader pattern of rising temperatures that has strained public infrastructure and emergency services. Alabama’s prison system has no mandated cooling standards, and many facilities, including Elmore, still lack central air conditioning. In the last decade, the state has faced several lawsuits alleging cruel and unusual punishment, but no federal court has required cooling. The lack of heat mitigation has led to dozens of heat‑related illnesses and at least two deaths in 2023 alone.

Inside Elmore, 1,200 inmates are housed in concrete cells that can reach 120 degrees during the day. The facility’s only fan system is a 30‑year‑old, low‑capacity unit that runs on a limited schedule. According to the Alabama Department of Corrections, the prison’s budget for environmental controls is less than $5,000 per year. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a petition demanding an immediate audit and the installation of cooling systems. Meanwhile, the governor’s office has said it will review the complaint, but no concrete timeline has been set.

If the lawsuit succeeds, the state could be forced to install air‑conditioning units or adopt a heat‑management protocol, setting a precedent for other facilities. For Montellano, the next step is to file a formal complaint with the Alabama Department of Corrections and seek a court order to protect Andrew’s health. The case could also prompt lawmakers to consider new legislation that would require all state prisons to maintain safe temperatures, a move that could reshape the nation’s approach to climate‑related prison conditions.