OVERLAPPING CRISES: Climate Disaster Susceptibility and Incarceration
Climate-related hazards and extreme weather events are occurring more frequently than ever due to climate change. The burden of extreme weather events and climate change is not distributed evenly; there is significant variability both in where climate disasters occur and in which communities are the most vulnerable to experiencing negative health outcomes with incarcerated populations being particularly at risk. Recent research has revealed a connection between natural disasters, extreme temperatures, and collateral impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations including those who are incarcerated. Spatial analyses have demonstrated that the density of incarcerated populations and proximity to areas most likely to experience extreme weather events are overlapping. Yet, a recent review of state and Department of Corrections’ preparedness plans has shown that many states likely to experience the most severe effects of climate change have minimal documentation of plans specifically for people who are incarcerated. Not only are people who are incarcerated more highly exposed to climate hazards but they also may be more vulnerable to the health impacts of climate hazards due to higher levels of pre-existing risk from chronic conditions and reduced access to high-quality healthcare. The purpose of this chapter is to summarize research that has documented the increased exposure to harmful environment and climate-related exposures for people who are incarcerated and to describe future directions for research and policy for this population. It will begin with an overview of health outcomes associated with climate hazards for those incarcerated. Issues related to climate including extreme temperatures, disaster preparedness planning, and climate vulnerability will then be discussed. The chapter will conclude with a discussion of potential policies and the next steps to address the overlapping crises of climate change and mass incarceration. Overall, this chapter will describe the implications of how the climate crisis intersects with mass incarceration in the United States.
