Leaky Roofs in Prisons = Mold = Sick Inmates

Should our incarcerated persons be sheltered from the elements? If you answered, “no” please move on. For those of you who believe they should, I agree, but it’s not always so.

Many prison facilities are outdated, old buildings that constantly need repair. My source for this information is in a California State Prison and is dreading the rainy season. His cell, and many around him, leaks in several places. This is both an inconvenience and a serious health risk. 

Imagine all your belongings in a very small area (a two-man cell). When the roof leaks you have to move everything that’s under the leak. In my friend’s case, this means both of them putting all their stuff on the top bunk to keep it dry. This leaves the guy with the top bunk no place to sit or sleep or spend his time in the cell. 

When roofs leak, rainwater seeps into cells, creating a breeding ground for mold which threatens the health of the incarcerated persons. Mold exposure is serious, and for these guys who are already suffering from lack of good nutrition it can be extremely dangerous or even deadly”

I copied this because it's the most comprehensive list I found:

Both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have classified mold toxins as cancer causing. The health effects can vary greatly depending on 4 risk factors, below is a brief description of each one.

Level 1 - Early Exposure to Mold

• Headaches

• Eye Irritation

• Sneezing

• Itching

• Skin Redness

• Skin Rash

Level 2 - Advanced Exposure to Mold

• Breathing Disorders

• Nose Bleeds

• Ear Infections

• Chronic Sinusitis

• Chronic Bronchitis

• Pain in Muscles and Joints

• Asthma

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Coughing up Blood

• Nervous Disorders

• Heart Palpitations

• Blurred Vision

• Swollen Glands

• Weight Loss

• Chronic Fatigue

• Loss of Appetite

• Depression

• Open Skin Sores or Lesions

• Fungal Nails (Hands or Feet)

• Sexual Dysfunction

• Thyroid Conditions

Level 3 - Long Term Exposure to Mold

• Blindness

• COPD

• Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis

• Histoplasmosis

• Memory Loss (long-term)

• Bleeding lungs

• Kidney Failure

• Liver disease

• Cancer

• Death

  
  

This is an inexcusable health risk! There’s a simple solution - fix the leaks! Not sure where our tax dollars are being spent but obviously not on maintaining decent living facilities for our loved ones who are locked up.

I have another force who will soon be entering a federal prison facility. I’ve heard jokes about how federal prisons are more “luxurious” than state prisons. Not so. Here’s an article written by an inmate in a federal prison on this very topic, their website is very informative. 

https://morethanourcrimes.org/voices/black-mold-leaky-ceilings-welcome-to-federal-prison/

If you have any questions about what life is really like in prison, please leave a comment or email me.

Until next time, thanks for reading!