Editor’s note: This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project , a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. Sign up for their Jackson newsletter , and follow them on Instagram , Reddit and YouTube .

Jails are notorious for inhumane conditions. Detainees often complain of violence , inedible food , limited programming and subpar healthcare . Lack of sunlight may be an unexpected addition to the list. But sunlight deprivation causes a myriad of serious issues, including high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and an increased risk of diabetes, as well as a host of mental health problems such as depression and sleep disorders.

Jails built in the last century often have few windows and little room for recreation and natural lig

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