Sixty-year-old Jose Trinidad Barrera died in the custody of the Bexar County Jail on July 7, 2023. He had been incarcerated in the San Antonio Jail since June 1, 2023. The address where the event causing the death of Mr. Barrera occurred is shown on the custodial death report (CDR) as St. Luke’s Baptist Hospital at 7930 Floyd Curl Drive in San Antonio, TX 78229.

Does the Texas Heat Cause Inmate Deaths in County Jails?

June 2023 has been the hottest summer on record in 174 years–since 1850. It’s likely that no one in Texas feels it more than its inmates.

Several headlines recently addressed the fact that more than two-thirds of living areas for prisoners in Texas lack air conditioning. In a 2023 legislative session, it was proposed that funding for prison air conditioning in the state should be added to the budget. Unfortunately, it failed in the Texas Senate.

An inmate died due to a heat-related issue last month, and it was the first time in 11 years a custodial death was classified in that way. In one of the stories about what inmates face during the brutal heat of Texas summers, it is mentioned that at least 9 other inmates have died since the current heat wave began.

Learn more in this ongoing series.

One of the reasons this website was created was to provide Texas inmates in municipal and county jails and their families with helpful resources. There is no intention of making accusations against individuals or entities on this site.

–Guest Contributor