2025 Extreme Heat Safety and Relief Strategy

Last summer was the hottest on record, and Arizonans felt those record-breaking temperatures. ADCRR knows the impact and toll extreme heat can have on staff, inmates, and visitors. Therefore, we take the heat season seriously, looking for ways to mitigate the impact of heat while exploring innovative ways to protect against heat concerns long term

Building on last year's experiences, the ADCRR’s 2025 Strategy maintains key initiatives while improving practices to further protect inmates, staff, and visitors' health, safety, and well-being.

The ADCRR has begun activating its 2025 Extreme Heat Safety and Relief Strategy

This means that any ADCRR prison complex and/or housing unit experiencing extreme heat may soon initiate any or all of the measures mentioned in this strategy.

Activation Note: Some of Arizona’s prison complexes and housing units are now equipped with modern air conditioning systems and newer building designs that allow for more effective temperature control during extreme heat. As standard practice, certain aspects of ADCRR’s Extreme Heat Safety and Relief Strategy will be activated at prison complexes or housing units only when localized weather conditions are categorized as extreme heat, and/or housing unit temperatures are recorded in excess of 85 degrees. (Therefore, actions taken at any given time will be dependent on the specific conditions at a prison complex or housing unit.)

Communications
  • ADCRR leadership will conduct weekly heat briefings to ensure planning, communication, and operations are achieving intended outcomes and to identify areas needing attention.
  • Officers, unit staff, and healthcare staff will communicate regularly with ADCRR’s inmate population about the importance of personal care, maintaining wellness, and accessing the resources available to them during times of extreme heat.
  • Updates to this plan or related activity will be communicated publicly on ADCRR’s website.
Training
  • Administration, in partnership with healthcare services at each institution will ensure officers, unit staff, and inmates know the early signs of heat-related health issues.
  • Administration at each institution will ensure officers, unit staff, and inmates know who to contact with concerns about another person's health during times of extreme heat.
  • 100% of all security staff will be trained in performing ambient temperature checks.
Visitation
  • Notwithstanding other restrictions, ADCRR in-person visitation will remain as normally scheduled unless heat issues make it unsafe to do so.
  • ADCRR has a free video visitation option available in lieu of in-person visitation and encourages its use during extreme heat.
Facilities HVAC Conversion Plan (Updated on an Ongoing Basis)
  • ADCRR currently has several projects in process to improve physical plant infrastructure and living environments by converting housing units from evaporative cooling systems to modern and energy-efficient HVAC systems. These projects are ongoing at various complexes throughout the state and remain a priority for the agency.
  • The Facilities HVAC Conversion Plan can be found here.
Procedures in Practice
  • Temperature checks will be completed at least twice per day between the hours of 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM in all housing units.
  • All temperature checks will be recorded utilizing a standardized form.
  • Temperature check forms will be reviewed by Complex Administration daily for accuracy and to identify any areas in need of immediate attention.
  • Prison Operation Division administrators will provide additional quality assurance measures related to the forms and needed follow-up actions.
  • ADCRR maintenance staff will conduct regular checks of airflow temperatures discharging from HVAC vents to monitor cooling system performance.
  • Housing units may run misting systems on shade structures for staff and the inmate population to utilize while outdoors.
Special Considerations for Staff and Inmate Wellness (Under Certain Conditions)

The Chief of Prison Operations, in consultation with other divisions, may direct the following special considerations identified below only when localized weather conditions are categorized as extreme heat, and/or housing unit temperatures are recorded in excess of 85 degrees.

  • ADCRR staff and healthcare personnel will increase their daily monitoring of inmate health and wellness.
    • Healthcare personnel will identify inmates who may have preexisting conditions making them more susceptible to heat-sensitivity, or inmates who may require additional healthcare services or relocation during extreme heat.
  • Additional cooling equipment and ice machines will be distributed to help provide immediate relief to units in the extreme heat-impacted areas.
  • Staff will provide the inmate population daily access to free ice for their personal use.
  • Housing units equipped with misting systems will run those systems on shade structures for staff and the inmate population to utilize while outdoors.
  • Air-conditioned cooling centers or temporary heat relief areas will be established for staff and inmates to access to stay safe and cool throughout the day.
    • These will include, but are not limited to: staff-specific locations for staff only, as well as shared areas for staff and inmates including, classrooms, dining areas, unoccupied visitation rooms, and dayrooms.
  • Modification of the daily unit schedules/unit clocks may occur in order to:
    • Allow inmates increased access to showers;
    • Limit the time staff and inmates are standing outdoors;
    • Allow increased access to temporary cooling rooms and areas;
    • Allow for a steady supply of ice water at all times.
  • Industrial fans, portable evaporative coolers, or other temporary cooling devices will be placed in affected areas to supplement existing cooling systems, in addition to other mitigation strategies.
  • Grooming and dress standards for the inmate population will be relaxed.
  • Additional mitigation actions may be taken based on institution-specific operations and physical plant structures, as necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions (FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS)

Q: When is ADCRR’s Extreme Heat Relief Strategy activated at a complex?

A: The ADCRR began activating its 2025 Extreme Heat Safety and Relief Strategy in Spring 2025. 

Activation Note: Some of Arizona’s prison complexes and housing units are now equipped with modern air conditioning systems and newer building designs that allow for more effective temperature control during extreme heat. As standard practice, certain aspects of ADCRR’s Extreme Heat Safety and Relief Strategy will be activated at prison complexes or housing units only when localized weather conditions are categorized as extreme heat, and/or housing unit temperatures are recorded in excess of 85 degrees. (Therefore, actions taken at any given time will be dependent on the specific conditions at a prison complex or housing unit.)

Q: Do all inmates get free ice when it’s hot outside?

A: Free ice is offered to inmates only when the ADCRR’s Extreme Heat Relief Strategy is activated, AND temperatures inside of a particular housing unit are recorded in excess of 85 degrees. Free ice is also provided if there is a significant climate control-related construction project, maintenance issue, or power outage at a housing unit during heat season. Ice is also available for purchase at any time by inmates at all ADCRR complexes.

Q: Which housing units have modern air conditioning and which housing units have evaporative cooling?

A: Please see ADCRR’s “HVAC Conversion Plan” for details on the type of cooling provided at ADCRR prisons and the progress of ongoing HVAC conversion projects. New HVAC conversion projects are dependent on the funding made available through the state budget. Among various other projects noted in the HVAC Conversion plan, ADCRR is pleased to share that all housing units at ASPC-Perryville are now equipped with modern HVAC systems.

Q: Do all incarcerated individuals receive cold water and how much do they receive?

A: Free water is available 24/7 to inmates, available via water fountains or large coolers, depending on the housing unit. Various beverages are also available for purchase through the complex commissary/store.

Q: What are cooling tents? Does every complex have them?

A: In prior years, the ADCRR has deployed large cooling tents with air conditioning on housing yards where air conditioning was unavailable due to ongoing climate control construction or maintenance projects. These cooling tents are deployed strategically as needed to help inmates stay safe and cool.

Q: Does ADCRR provide an ice chest or cooler for inmates to keep their ice cool?

A: Styrofoam ice chests are available for purchase at a prison complex’s commissary/store. Ice chests may be made available free-of-charge on housing yards with ongoing climate control construction, maintenance projects, or power outages.

Q: Do inmate transport vehicles have AC?

A: All of ADCRR’s inmate transport vehicles are equipped with air conditioning to ensure inmates stay cool and safe while in transport.

Q: What does a relaxed dress code entail for the incarcerated population?

A: Inmates are permitted to wear shorts to the dining hall, something typically not allowed, and male inmates are allowed to remain shirtless within their housing unit dayrooms.

Frequently Asked Questions (HEALTH SERVICES)

Q: How does an inmate know that they are suffering from symptoms of a heat-related illness, and what steps are taken to care for them?

A: Staff and inmates are provided education in preventing heat related health impacts, and educated to recognize heat related issues. During this education, staff and inmates review the multiple methods for seeking out support should they or someone else need medical attention for a suspected heat related health issue. Health-related symptom and injury posters are posted in English and Spanish in the Medical areas at prison complexes and on electronic inmate tablets. Anyone experiencing a heat-related episode at any time, is encouraged to see a medical provider or ask for help from an ADCRR officer or staff member.

Q: How many heat-related illnesses has ADCRR had so far in 2025? Will the Department provide me data for the number of heat-related illnesses experienced during a specific time frame?

A: The ADCRR deals with any and all concerns related to inmate and staff health promptly. The Department implements its Extreme Heat Safety and Relief Strategy to help mitigate issues that may arise during the hottest time of the year.

If you have questions regarding the number of heat-related illnesses experienced by ADCRR staff or inmates, we ask that you submit a public record request online here: https://corrections.az.gov/subpoena-public-records.