Relatives of inmates at the Scotland County Correctional Institution say their loved ones are living without air conditioning, raising concerns about health and humane treatment.
Multiple AC Failures in Recent Weeks
Within the past two weeks, two chillers malfunctioned inside the facility, leaving several housing units without cool air.
Earlier this month, ABC15 reported an initial air conditioning issue at the prison. According to Brad Deen, spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections, the air conditioning chiller failed in one of the five housing units.
Deen said that a contractor had been working on the repairs and expected the issue to be resolved by June 16.
Temperatures Reach 85 Degrees Indoors
Deen confirmed that staff have been monitoring temperatures, which have reached up to 85°F indoors.
One concerned mother shared that her son has been complaining for months about the extreme heat and lack of proper ventilation:
“I wouldn’t want my dog to suffer and let alone my child,” she said.
“They haven’t had air the whole time he’s been there… He called me yesterday and said, ‘It’s so hot they can’t breathe, they can’t sleep at night.’ He says they take four or five showers a night.”
“They’ve been working on it for a long time. It still hasn’t been fixed.”
Facility Housing and Conditions
According to the Department of Adult Corrections website, Scotland Correctional can house nearly 1,700 inmates.
On Wednesday, Keith Acree, the facility’s communications director, issued the following statement:
“One of the chillers at Scotland Correctional Institute went out yesterday. That chiller has already been replaced with a portable unit until a permanent repair can be made.”
“Scotland Correctional is monitoring temperatures in the affected dorms. Large industrial fans are also providing air circulation.”
Monitoring and Safety Efforts
The department emphasized that:
Correctional staff are trained to identify signs of heat stress
Staff are actively monitoring both themselves and inmates for symptoms
Portable cooling solutions and fans are being used while awaiting a permanent repair
ABC15 will provide updates when the permanent repair is complete.
