Excessive Heat Safety and Relief Strategy (07/19/23)
As Arizona continues to struggle with the unprecedented extreme heat being experienced by our communities, ADCRR is committed to doing everything possible to manage our facilities in the safest, coolest, and most efficient manner for our incarcerated populations as well as the ADCRR staff assigned to these institutions.
The following actions are being taken by ADCRR as a proactive approach to address inmate safety during excessive heat advisories:
ADCRR security and medical personnel have increased their monitoring of inmate health and wellness. In addition, ADCRR staff are performing regular checks of the ambient temperature within housing units.
Our Department is also providing education to our officers, staff and inmates on how to recognize early signs of heat-related issues and how best to notify the appropriate people of any concerns that may arise.
During this time, our officers are maintaining regular communication with our incarcerated population regarding the importance of personal care and the resources available to them during times of extreme heat.
To help everyone stay cool throughout the day, we are offering alternative options to outdoor activities during peak hours of excessive temperatures.
When indoor temperatures are high, industrial fans or portable evaporative coolers are placed in affected areas to supplement existing cooling systems. In addition, incarcerated individuals have increased access to showers, and a consistent supply of ice water is always available.
Recognizing that we must do all we can to ensure everyone’s comfort and safety, ADCRR has also relaxed our grooming and dress standards during times when the temperature is high.
And 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.
CONSIDER VIDEO VISITATION
We know how important it is for everyone to stay in touch with our incarcerated population. So during this time of extreme heat, we would like to remind everyone that ADCRR has a free video visitation option available in lieu of in-person visitation.