Constantin Filan died on July 1, 2020, as a result of a police shooting in or near Houston, Texas. Officers with the Memorial Villages Police Department had been attempting to apprehend Mr. Filan when he was shot. He was only 23 years old at the time of his death. 

Restraint Chairs Continued

There is widespread evidence from across the nation that jail staff members use restraint chairs punitively, which is not supposed to be the case. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) provides requirements guiding the use of restraint devices. Among the details is that they cannot be used as a form of punishment.

In a particular county jail outside of Texas, numerous stories revealed that the restraint chair was used more there than anywhere else in that state. More frequently than what is typical, there tended to be an escalation in situations at the jail resulting in using the restraint chair.

During one month, for example, documents showed that the restraint chair was used 18 times. An outcry for accountability followed that revelation, and the sheriff there made commitments as follows: 

• He would make note of the following month’s count and report that number to the members of the jail oversight board.
• He would also make note of how frequently a person struggling with a mental disability was strapped into the chair.
• Lastly, the sheriff said he would turn in the restraint chair forms completed whenever it was used.

Learn more in Part 1 and this continuing series.

Intimating that individuals or institutions have engaged in wrongdoing is never intended on this site. Helping inmates now or formerly held in Texas county jails is the purpose of posts on this website.

–Guest Contributor