Growing interest in criminal justice reform might create more work for the HVAC industry. Many prisons in the United States lack air conditioning, with 13 of the 15 hottest states lacking universal air conditioning in their prisons. There are many reasons for that, including a lack of funds as many taxpayers fail to see why their prisoners deserve comfort in the first place.
But recent lawsuits might change that, forcing states to invest in air conditioning in their prisons. A judge in Texas recently threatened to lock up prison officials for housing inmates in an area without air conditioning. The judge made the threat during a trial to settle a five-year-old lawsuit filed by the inmates. In North Carolina, a group that brings service dogs into prisons refused to allow their animals at a women’s prison due to a lack of air conditioning. This led to calls for the state to use a budget surplus to provide air conditioning.