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The oppressive heat is hard to take, even for those who can go home to air conditioning.

But think for a moment how horrible it would be if you didn’t have air conditioning.

We learned that some Housing Authority apartments and the Algoa Correctional Facility don't have air conditioning.

So should it be a required that businesses, prisons, and state office buildings have air conditioning?

KRCG’s Facebook Crew took that question to local officials Tuesday.

Temperatures have been in the nineties this week, a time when air conditioning seems essential.

But not everyone has that luxury to enjoy air conditioning, like some of the people who live in public housing in Jefferson City.

"There are probably about 200 units that HUD doesn't provide air conditioning for,” Housing Authority Deputy Director James Jenkins said.

Jenkins told me all the elderly and those who have disabilities are guaranteed an apartment with central air.

But why don't all Housing Authority apartments have it?

"HUD just never gave out a utility allowance for the people that live in public housing, so they can have air conditioning units. I don't know why HUD hasn't done that, but I guess part of it is just the cost,” Jenkins said.

Although some of the Housing Authority apartments don't have air conditioning, people still have the option to buy or rent a small air conditioner, unlike prisoners at the Algoa Correctional Facility.

The Department of Corrections said that the Algoa Correction Facility does not have air conditioning.

So prison guards have to keep a closer eye on the inmates to make sure there are no warning signs of heat-related illness.

They also told me they give the inmates access to ice water all day long.

But if the inmates want a fan or a thermos in their cell they need to purchase it themselves.

Jails are a different story.

Sheriff Greg White said as far as he knows every jail in the state has air conditioning, because if there wasn't air conditioning it would be very chaotic.

"If there's reasonable comfort like reasonable food it's easier to maintain order in the jail population. If you have a large jail facility it's harder to maintain order if it's grossly hot, grossly cold, or there's terrible food,” Cole County Sheriff Greg White said.

The Office of Administration told KRCG all state office buildings have air conditioning.

So tell us what you think. Should it be required that jails, prisons, and state buildings have air conditioning?

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Should it be required for businesses, jails, and state offices to have air conditioning?

Tonight at ten KRCG's Facebook Crew talks with local officials to find out what they think about an air condition requirement.