West LA Times

The heat-related death toll this summer is expected to rise amid unprecedented temperatures. California’s latest record-breaking heat wave apparently claimed a life on Saturday in one of the state’s prisons, where indoor temperatures reportedly reached the high 90s.

UCLA medical anthropologists Bharat Venkat and Nicholas Shapiro predict more "predictable and preventable" prisoner heat deaths this summer. Shapiro studies carceral ecologies, while Venkat, director of the UCLA Heat Lab, focuses on extreme heat and inequality. They argue that closing more prisons and jails is a humane solution, especially given California's recent approval of indoor heat protections that specifically exclude prisons.

"Incarcerated people in California are amongst the most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, injuries and deaths," said Venkat.

"A recent study found that California is in the top three states to pose heat risks to incarcerated people. These deaths are predictable and preventable, and the solution will save taxpayers money and free up money to invest in communities that have been historically marginalized," added Shapiro.

Venkat noted last summer was the hottest on record, with this year potentially surpassing it. He emphasized several factors making incarcerated individuals particularly susceptible to extreme heat: prison locations, construction methods, lack of air conditioning and ventilation, prevalence of health conditions worsened by heat, and use of psychiatric drugs exacerbating its effects.

"Heat-related deaths definitely happen in California prisons, and I’d expect more to happen this summer," Venkat stated. He pointed out difficulties in obtaining accurate data on such deaths due to how they are recorded and often discounted as causes or contributing factors when related health issues like heart attacks or strokes occur. However, recent research indicates a correlation between rising temperatures, multi-day heatwaves, and increased mortality among incarcerated individuals.

"We’d prefer the known risks were mitigated rather than us having to count bodies to muster political action," Shapiro commented.

Media outlets are encouraged to quote from Shapiro's and Venkat’s comments or contact them for further insights on environmental topics. They also authored an opinion piece published Monday in the Los Angeles Times titled "California will finally have indoor heat standards for workplaces — with a cruel exception."

Shapiro is an assistant professor at UCLA's Institute for Society and Genetics specializing in carceral ecologies, chemical contamination, and climate change. His recent research highlights dangerously high PFAS levels in U.S. prison drinking water. Venkat directs the UCLA Heat Lab and holds joint appointments at UCLA’s Institute for Society and Genetics, History Department, and Anthropology Department. He can discuss the dangers of extreme heat across various settings including prisons.

Alison Hewitt

Senior Media Relations Officer

UCLA Strategic Communications | Office of Media Relations

ahewitt@stratcomm.ucla.edu | @ashewitt | @ahewitt.bsky

310-206-5461

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