Air conditioning issues leave inmates hot during extreme weather
YUMA COUNTY, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona State Prison Complex in San Luis, Arizona is currently resolving issues to fix its air conditioning system.
Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) Media Relations released a statement regarding the extreme heat issues at their facility.
"ASPC-Yuma has experienced some issues with the newer AC systems at its Dakota Unit—the AC systems are approximately 1 year old. A contractor was on site at ASPC-Yuma last week to conduct repairs and address the warranty replacement of fan motors. Replacement warranty parts were ordered and the contractor will be on site at ASPC-Yuma starting tomorrow (07/25) to complete the necessary repairs. ADCRR Director Ryan Thornell is receiving regular updates regarding the status of operations and heat-related impacts at ASPC-Yuma and ADCRR’s eight other state correctional complexes.
The comfort and safety of our staff and inmate population are his top priority.
Given the ongoing hot summer weather conditions, ADCRR is taking additional steps to help ensure the comfort and safety of incarcerated individuals at ASPC-Yuma. Many of these additional steps are also being implemented at other complexes, as necessary.
To read more about the Excessive Heat Safety and Relief Strategy implemented at ASPC-Yuma and other ADCRR complexes, please visit here. (As part of this strategy, when a housing area has been impacted by a heat-related issue, air conditioned Cooling Centers are available for incarcerated individuals to stay safe and cool until the heat-related issue is resolved.)
In addition, until further notice, ice is accessible to the inmate population free-of-charge for personal use at complexes where our Excessive Heat Safety and Relief Strategy has been implemented. Once the strategy is activated at a complex, such as it has been at ASPC-Yuma, it will remain in place until further notice. Each ADCRR complex is working through an operational plan to ensure the necessary quantity of ice is available on-site, consistently, and can be stored, accessed, and utilized in a safe manner. The ADCRR frontline staff are working tirelessly to provide a safe and secure environment that also allows for relief from the heat and ensures health and wellbeing.
We are appreciative of the staff’s dedication to this effort, even during the hottest of temperatures, and for their flexibility and responsiveness. Our team continues to work around the clock to keep cooling systems functioning and to support the additional strategies put into place. These efforts will continue until we have safely made it through the summer weather.
Best Regards, ADCRR Media Relations
