PRISONERS TO BE MOVED TO BEAT EXCESSIVE HEAT

  

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice says they will temporarily move approximately 1,000 prisoners following a judge's orders to provide the inmates relief from hot temperatures inside the Pack Unit in Navasota.

Last week, a federal judge ordered the state to come up with a plan to lower the temperature to 88 degrees inside the prison. Attorneys for inmates say the sweltering summer heat is endangering the prisoners’ health.

The TDCJ issued details Thursday, on a plan to temporarily move the prisoners to either Austin or Diboll.

The prisoners being moved have a variety of health conditions or are at least 65 years old.

State prison officials say they considered several other options, but they were not deemed practical.