Grits noticed this short item about a vendor with whom the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has contracted to build six "swine buildings" for around $750K. Given ongoing litigation about excessive heat in un-air conditioned Texas prison units, this tidbit stuck out at me:
MORE: After tweeting out this post, the Texas Civil Rights Project issued the following press release on the topic:
"Our ‘turnkey solution’ is ideal for environments where the site must be closely controlled for security reasons," he continues. "Our modular AG buildings are completely climate controlled, easy to clean and sanitize, and include the most advanced swine equipment including boar isolation, gestation, farrowing, nursery, finishing, feed study and show pigs -www.artsway-scientific.com/ag-buildings/hog-care.” - See more at: http://www.porknetwork.com/pork-news/Arts-Way-to-build-six-swine-buildings-for-Texas-Criminal-Justice-219775081.html#sthash.is4jqIxj.dpuf
"Our ‘turnkey solution’ is ideal for environments where the site must be closely controlled for security reasons," [Dan Palmer, President of Art’s Way Scientific] continues. "Our modular AG buildings are completely climate controlled, easy to clean and sanitize, and include the most advanced swine equipment including boar isolation, gestation, farrowing, nursery, finishing, feed study and show pigs - www.artsway-scientific.com/ag-buildings/hog-care.”So TDCJ's hogs get a "climate controlled" environment but the prisoners and correctional officers, not so much. Go figure.
MORE: After tweeting out this post, the Texas Civil Rights Project issued the following press release on the topic:
Texas Civil Rights Project calls prison’s plan to air condition hog buildings “outrageous”Austin, TX – The Texas Civil Rights Project condemned the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s plan to spend $750,000 on new “climate controlled” “swine buildings” as prisoners die from the extreme temperatures in Texas prisons.According to a news release from TDCJ’s vendor, Art’s Way Manufacturing, Texas is purchasing “six modular swine buildings” that are “climate controlled” as part of TDCJ’s agricultural programs.But most inmate living areas in TDCJ prisons are not “climate controlled.” The indoor heat index can regularly reach 130 degrees – temperatures the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration advises are “extremely dangerous.” TDCJ’s own policies recognize such extreme heat makes heat stroke “imminent.” The National Weather Service puts heat as “the number one weather-related killer in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year.” On average, heat kills more people than “floods, lightening, tornadoes and hurricanes combined.”“Fourteen prisoners have died from heat stroke in recent years,” said Scott Medlock, Director of TCRP’s Prisoners’ Rights Program. “It is outrageous that TDCJ would prioritize the safety of pigs raised for slaughter over the lives of human beings. TDCJ has literally made the decision that protecting its bacon is more important than protecting human lives.” A chart showing the recent prisoner deaths is attached.Each prisoner who died suffered from disabilities that made them more susceptible to extreme temperatures. For example, Rodney Adams, 45, was prescribed psychiatric medication that prevented his body from regulating his internal temperature. He arrived at TDCJ’s Gurney Unit in Tennessee Colony on August 2, 2013 to serve a four-year sentence for driving while intoxicated. He died the next day when indoor temperatures soared over 100 degrees.“TDCJ claims its too expensive to protect the lives of men like Mr. Adams,” said Medlock. “But they spare no expense to air condition their pork.”Five wrongful death lawsuits, including one on behalf of Mr. Adams’ family, are pending against TDCJ officials.
See a pdf of the press release, page two of which includes a chart with details on 14 inmates who died of heat-related causes.
"Our ‘turnkey solution’ is ideal for environments where the site must be closely controlled for security reasons," he continues. "Our modular AG buildings are completely climate controlled, easy to clean and sanitize, and include the most advanced swine equipment including boar isolation, gestation, farrowing, nursery, finishing, feed study and show pigs -www.artsway-scientific.com/ag-buildings/hog-care.” - See more at: http://www.porknetwork.com/pork-news/Arts-Way-to-build-six-swine-buildings-for-Texas-Criminal-Justice-219775081.html#sthash.is4jqIxj.dpuf
"Our ‘turnkey solution’ is ideal for environments where the site must be closely controlled for security reasons," he continues. "Our modular AG buildings are completely climate controlled, easy to clean and sanitize, and include the most advanced swine equipment including boar isolation, gestation, farrowing, nursery, finishing, feed study and show pigs -www.artsway-scientific.com/ag-buildings/hog-care.” - See more at: http://www.porknetwork.com/pork-news/Arts-Way-to-build-six-swine-buildings-for-Texas-Criminal-Justice-219775081.html#sthash.is4jqIxj.dpuf
"Our ‘turnkey solution’ is ideal for environments where the site must be closely controlled for security reasons," [Dan Palmer, President of Art’s Way Scientific] continues. "Our modular AG buildings are completely climate controlled, easy to clean and sanitize, and include the most advanced swine equipment including boar isolation, gestation, farrowing, nursery, finishing, feed study and show pigs - www.artsway-scientific.com/ag-buildings/hog-care.”So TDCJ's hogs get a "climate controlled" environment but the prisoners and correctional officers, not so much. Go figure.
MORE: After tweeting out this post, the Texas Civil Rights Project issued the following press release on the topic:
Texas Civil Rights Project calls prison’s plan to air condition hog buildings “outrageous”Austin, TX – The Texas Civil Rights Project condemned the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s plan to spend $750,000 on new “climate controlled” “swine buildings” as prisoners die from the extreme temperatures in Texas prisons.According to a news release from TDCJ’s vendor, Art’s Way Manufacturing, Texas is purchasing “six modular swine buildings” that are “climate controlled” as part of TDCJ’s agricultural programs.But most inmate living areas in TDCJ prisons are not “climate controlled.” The indoor heat index can regularly reach 130 degrees – temperatures the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration advises are “extremely dangerous.” TDCJ’s own policies recognize such extreme heat makes heat stroke “imminent.” The National Weather Service puts heat as “the number one weather-related killer in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year.” On average, heat kills more people than “floods, lightening, tornadoes and hurricanes combined.”“Fourteen prisoners have died from heat stroke in recent years,” said Scott Medlock, Director of TCRP’s Prisoners’ Rights Program. “It is outrageous that TDCJ would prioritize the safety of pigs raised for slaughter over the lives of human beings. TDCJ has literally made the decision that protecting its bacon is more important than protecting human lives.” A chart showing the recent prisoner deaths is attached.Each prisoner who died suffered from disabilities that made them more susceptible to extreme temperatures. For example, Rodney Adams, 45, was prescribed psychiatric medication that prevented his body from regulating his internal temperature. He arrived at TDCJ’s Gurney Unit in Tennessee Colony on August 2, 2013 to serve a four-year sentence for driving while intoxicated. He died the next day when indoor temperatures soared over 100 degrees.“TDCJ claims its too expensive to protect the lives of men like Mr. Adams,” said Medlock. “But they spare no expense to air condition their pork.”Five wrongful death lawsuits, including one on behalf of Mr. Adams’ family, are pending against TDCJ officials.
See a pdf of the press release, page two of which includes a chart with details on 14 inmates who died of heat-related causes.
"Our ‘turnkey solution’ is ideal for environments where the site must be closely controlled for security reasons," he continues. "Our modular AG buildings are completely climate controlled, easy to clean and sanitize, and include the most advanced swine equipment including boar isolation, gestation, farrowing, nursery, finishing, feed study and show pigs -www.artsway-scientific.com/ag-buildings/hog-care.” - See more at: http://www.porknetwork.com/pork-news/Arts-Way-to-build-six-swine-buildings-for-Texas-Criminal-Justice-219775081.html#sthash.is4jqIxj.dpuf
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