2021-02-22 12:12:00

No Heat or Water, Overflowing Toilets: Texas Prisons Went “from Bad to Dire” in Storm

As winter storms overwhelmed Texas, many incarcerated people in the state went days without heat and water, making already grim conditions behind bars even more intolerable for thousands of people.

Officials say 33 prisons across the state lost power and 20 had water shortages after the state’s electrical grid failed. Staff shortages compounded the problems, and some incarcerated people report not being provided with blankets to keep warm in their freezing cells and being served inedible food.

“Texas prison conditions have gone from bad to dire,” says Marshall Project reporter Keri Blakinger. “Prisons didn’t really have the sort of infrastructure going into all of this that many people do in the free world.”

Democracy Now! produces a daily, global, independent news hour hosted by award-winning journalists Amy Goodman and Juan González. lOur reporting includes breaking daily news headlines and in-depth interviews with people on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues. 

On DN!, you’ll hear a diversity of voices speaking for themselves, providing a unique and sometimes provocative perspective on global events.

Missed an episode?  Check out DN on FSTV VOD anytime or visit the show page for the latest clips.

#FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change. 

#FSTV is available on Dish, DirectTV, AppleTV, Roku, Sling, and online at freespeech.org.

Amy Goodman Democracy Now! Free Speech TV Keri Blakinger Police Brutality Power Outage Prisons Staff Shortages Texas United States Winter Storm

Environment

The Rick Smith Show

The Rick Smith Show | Insurance Companies Believe in Climate Change

The Rick Smith Show | Insurance Companies Believe in Climate Change

BreakThrough News

BreakThrough News | Billions to Bomb, but not to Fight Fires

BreakThrough News | Billions to Bomb, but not to Fight Fires

The Randi Rhodes' Show

The Randi Rhodes Show | Trump Bullies the World and American Citizens

The Randi Rhodes Show | Trump Bullies the World and American Citizens

Better Worlds Ahead: Realizing Our Brighter Climate Futures

Better Worlds Ahead: Realizing Our Brighter Climate Futures

KICK OUT THE CLOWNS - Watch on VOD Soon!

KICK OUT THE CLOWNS - Watch on VOD Soon!

How The Pink Tax Affects You! | Generation Girl Code

How The Pink Tax Affects You! | Generation Girl Code

Don’t Shop There: Hit Back Where It Hurts—Their Profits

Don’t Shop There: Hit Back Where It Hurts—Their Profits

Her Voice, Her Power: The Story of Hira Anwar | Generation Girl Code

Her Voice, Her Power: The Story of Hira Anwar | Generation Girl Code

Related

From FSTV - THANK YOU!

From FSTV - THANK YOU!

KICK OUT THE CLOWNS - Watch on VOD Soon!

KICK OUT THE CLOWNS - Watch on VOD Soon!

Match Day! Support People-Powered Media | Rick Smith

Match Day! Support People-Powered Media | Rick Smith

Lets Make Space for Healing Together

Lets Make Space for Healing Together

Proud Partners