Exhibit aims to replicate feeling of Florida prison cell

What does it feel like to be locked inside a Florida prison in the summer heat?

As part of an interactive exhibit called “Beat the Heat,” people can spend three minutes inside a mock prison cell to experience what more than 60,000 Florida inmates go through during the summer.

The challenge, which aims to simulate cell conditions with no air conditioning and ventilation, takes place 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Rock Plaza at the University of Miami in Coral Gables.

The event is being organized by Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), the Washington, D.C.-based group that advocates for a fair and effective justice system for people who are incarcerated, their families and former inmates.

“It can be hard to comprehend how truly oppressive the heat is in prisons,” said Kevin Ring, president of FAMM. “This event will give people a chance to see how truly inhumane it is to subject people to heat like this without any form of relief.”

According to FAMM, Florida counties, including Miami-Dade, Volusia and Pinellas, have laws that require dog kennels to provide air conditioning and air ventilation for animals, but “there are no similar laws protecting prisoners.”

Exhibit sponsors also include Palm Beach County-based nonprofit Florida Cares, UM’s School of Law, the school’s Sociology & Criminology Club and the Hope Public Interest Resource Center.

Also scheduled to speak at the event is Florida state Rep. Shevrin Jones (D-West Park) as well as people who have been incarcerated and families of those who have been affected by prison conditions.

The Coral Gables challenge will be the second time FAMM has been part of an event to raise awareness about heat conditions in prisons. In March, FAMM held a similar “Beat the Heat’’ event with Texas Prisons AirConditioning Advocates (TPPA) at the Texas State Capitol in Austin.

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