Frustrations growing over AC troubles at ACI

July 25, 2016 9:28 pm

Frustrations are mounting at the ACI Intake Center over AC trouble in the midst of this heat wave.

"It can be really trying. It can be exhausting to work like this. We start to get concerned because it could become a climate issue obviously when everybody is hot and everybody is frustrated it can lead to other problems,” said The President of the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers Rich Ferruccio.

The intake center houses as many as 1100 inmates. Ferruccio says this is far from the first time they’ve had this issue.

"It’s hit or miss. Some parts of the building are cold other parts are extremely warm,” said Ferruccio. "It’s an on-going yearly problem. It is frustrating we would hope that sooner or later they’ll get to the point where they will fix it correctly."

The Department of Corrections releasing this statement: “The security and safety of everyone at the DOC is our top priority, and that includes those who are housed here. The ISC does have air conditioning throughout the facility, although there are some areas that occasionally experience operational inconsistencies. A specialized maintenance contractor came over and is addressing those areas today.”

We spoke with one mother whose son is in lock up. She says the extreme heat has her concerned for his well-being.

"They are aggravated in there everybody is in a bad mood. Imagine yourself being hot all day can’t even sleep. He told me he hasn’t been sleeping for 3 days,” said Norma Santo.

Ferruccio says that inmates are being allowed to buy fans for the first time while in lock-up. He also says he’s been told the DOC is trying to bring in a chiller unit as soon as possible.