Joshua Daniel Key was booked in Van Zandt County Jail in Canton, Texas, on July 9, 2021, and died 11 days later on the 20^th. The custodial death report states that he died of natural causes. Mr. Key was 48 years old at the time of his death.

Inmates have rights, and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) establishes operational requirements for county jails in the state. One of the basic protections needed is related to suicides. The second leading cause of death in jails and prisons is suicide. TCJS includes suicide prevention measures under the health services section of the Texas code governing jail procedures.

The supervision of inmates has been identified as a deterrent to suicide and other activities that can threaten their safety. Of course, the safety of jail staff members is also a crucial consideration. When an inmate is behaving in a manner that can cause harm to himself or others, restraints can be used. Examples of restraints include handcuffs and restraint chairs. In every instance demanding the use of a restraint device, the least restrictive method must be used.

Restraint chairs are the most restrictive of the devices used to gain control of an inmate. The manufacturers of these devices always include instructions warning of potential harm that could occur. For the protection of inmates, it is essential for TCJS rules to be followed, though the specific guidelines for using a restraint chair in Texas jails may not fully match suggestions for use provided by manufacturers.

See Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series.

There is no intention on this website to suggest that persons or entities have been involved in misdeeds. Posts on this site are provided for the purpose of helping Texas inmates in county jails, whether current or past prisoners.

–Guest Contributor