Recommendation 20230927-005: Response to inhumane prison conditions — original pdf

Recommendation

BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Joint Inclusion Committee Number: Recommendation 20230927-005: Inhumane Prison Conditions WHEREAS, the historically and have created extreme life-threatening conditions; and summer temperatures in Texas are widely acknowledged WHEREAS, the absence of adequate incarcerated violation and constitution; people and correct of basic human rights air conditioning ional staff to intolerable a States under cruel and unusual punishment clause of the United in two-thirds of Texas prisons subjects and unsafe heat levels, which constitute WHEREAS, the lack of climate among incarcerated and health effects; people control health exacerbates risks, and staff, including heat exhaustion, causing heat-related heatstroke, and other adverse illnesses WHEREAS, such conditions contributed to severe rights staff shortages, and cost millions and within the past 10 years; have taken the lives of multiple lawsuits Texans, incarcerated in wrongful death and civil likely of dollars WHEREAS, the absence environment, correctional of climate ensions heightening t and facilities; control and compromising contributes to a hostile and volatile overall prison safety and security within the WHEREAS, it is our moral and ethical including compassion; those who and are incarcerated, and to ensure that they are treated with respect and duty to uphold the rights and dignity of all Texans, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Joint Inclu 1.Austin City Council is urgently inhumane need to address from the absence city limits, resulting is further advocacy City Council 2.Austin urged to collaborate for the "AC in Prisons" called conditions upon to recognize in correctional of air conditioning. that: sion Committee and acknowledge both within the pressing and outside facilities, the in Texas prisons, prioritizing facilities bill for the installation of air risk ofheat­ with the highest with the State of Texas on viable including solutions, conditioning systems deaths. related City Council 3.Austin along with human rights awareness around this pressing matter. is encouraged organizations, to collaborate legal experts, state and federal groups, with relevant and advocacy to help raise agencies, 4.Austin City Council reporting model that ensures is recommended on climate-related to establish conditions within to humane conditions. adherences its own facilities a model for effective monitoring and to serve as a state-wide 5.The Austin consultation parties to develop City Council with the Human Rights is called upon to engage Commission, and affected stakeholders, in constructive community for addressing extreme dialogue and heat conditions. comprehensive guidelines BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Joint Inclusion Council Austin. compassionate on its exceptional leaderships and tireless Committee commends the Austin City efforts in laying out the foundation for a more Date of Approval: September 27, 2023 Record of the vote: 7 -0 FOR: Vice Chair R. Bondi, H. Huang, R. Austen, M. Ortega, M. Davis, L. Vargas, J. Powell Absent: Chair A. Afifi, S. F ontanesi , J. Glasser Attest: _____________________________________________ R. Bondi, Vice Chair Attest: _____________________________________________ A. Mireles, Staff Liaison [Equity Office Community Services Program Coordinator]