These decisions are made by judges and juries, in accordance with state laws and sentencing guidelines. The department is solely responsible for the care and custody of offenders under its jurisdiction. Inmates still aren't serving most of their sentences. Prisons are air-conditioned. In addition, Union CI was built in 1913 and has since been renovated with some of the older buildings constructed in the 70's with air-conditioning.
Facilities built under the privatization contract are air-conditioned.
Inmates who get life sentences don't really stay in prison for life. Since 1994, anyone sentenced to life in prison is serving a life term with no possibility of parole. Offenders sentenced to life for non-capital crimes committed between 1983 and 1993 are serving life sentences without any chance for release. Ironically, offenders sentenced to life for capital crimes committed between 1983 and 1993 are parole eligible after serving 25 year mandatory sentences. These sentencing provisions appear reversed, but they are correct.