Florida’s Prison Crisis and the ACLU’s Misplaced Priorities

In Florida, more than 75% of state prisons lack air conditioning, leaving thousands of inmates to suffer through brutal summers in inhumane conditions. Meanwhile, the ACLU, once a champion of civil liberties, has turned its focus toward advancing controversial gender policies rather than fighting for the basic human rights of incarcerated individuals. Both Florida’s Republican-led state government and the ACLU deserve criticism—one for neglecting a critical human rights issue, and the other for abandoning its core mission in favor of ideological activism.

Florida’s Republican Leadership and Prison Conditions

Florida’s prison system is a crisis of neglect. State leaders, who often campaign on “law and order”, seem content with allowing prisoners to swelter in temperatures that routinely exceed 100 degrees inside prison walls.

Let’s be clear: prisons are not meant to be comfortable. They should serve as a deterrent to crime, a means of punishment, and a pathway to rehabilitation. However, air conditioning is not a luxury—it is a basic necessity in Florida’s climate.

Even with hardened views on criminal justice, state leaders must recognize that extreme heat poses serious health risks, leading to dehydration, heatstroke, and even death. Inmates, regardless of their crimes, are still human beings entitled to basic rights, including adequate shelter. Food, clothing, healthcare, and humane living conditions are not privileges; they are the bare minimum required by human decency and the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.

Yet, Florida’s legislature has refused to address this glaring problem. Instead, state budgets continue to prioritize mass incarceration over humane incarceration. While funding goes toward building more prisons, there is little effort to improve the conditions of existing facilities. If the Florida Legislature is unwilling to act, then state and federal courts may eventually force their hand.

The ACLU’s Abandonment of Critical Civil Rights Issues

The ACLU has long been a key player in advocating for the rights of incarcerated individuals. In years past, it fought against solitary confinement abuses, racial disparities in sentencing, and wrongful convictions. However, today, the organization has shifted its focus away from traditional civil rights battles to more ideological causes, such as compelling schools to allow biological males into girls’ restrooms and sports teams.

This shift represents a dangerous distraction from core civil liberties. The ACLU’s traditional mission was to protect fundamental rights—not to create new rights at the expense of others. Federal civil rights statutes have protected women’s rights for decades, including the right to privacy and equal athletic competition. Yet, the ACLU seems willing to erode these protections in pursuit of ideological victories.

Meanwhile, critical issues—such as the humanitarian crisis in Florida’s prisons—are ignored. Where is the ACLU’s outrage over inmates suffering in 110-degree cells? Where are the lawsuits pushing for prison reform instead of culture war battles? The organization’s failure to prioritize this issue undermines its credibility as a true advocate for civil rights.

The Solution Lies in Legislative Action, Not the Courts

While some might look to the courts to step in, the reality is that Florida’s conservative judiciary and the U.S. Supreme Court’s originalist majority are unlikely to mandate air conditioning in prisons. The Eighth Amendment’s interpretation is historically narrow, requiring “basic human needs” but not necessarily modern comforts like air conditioning.

Instead, the burden falls on the Florida Legislature. Lawmakers must recognize that providing air conditioning in prisons is not about pampering inmates—it’s about preventing unnecessary suffering and upholding human dignity.

Even from a fiscal perspective, implementing air conditioning could reduce medical expenses, lower violence levels (as extreme heat exacerbates aggression), and improve the overall safety of prison staff. Neglecting the issue isn’t just cruel—it’s bad policy.

Final Thoughts

Both Florida’s Republican-led government and the ACLU have failed in their responsibilities. One refuses to address a humanitarian crisis in its prisons, while the other has strayed from its original mission, prioritizing culture war fights over genuine civil rights concerns.

Air conditioning in Florida prisons should be a legislative priority. The ACLU should refocus on critical civil liberties. And the state government must recognize that basic human decency does not undermine criminal justice—it strengthens it.

At Bonderud Law, we advocate for justice and fairness in the legal system. If you have concerns about prison conditions, civil rights violations, or criminal justice reform, contact our office today to learn how we can help.