When Rodney Paul Guerra was booked into Childress County Jail, he said that his medical history included hepatitis and seizures. The sheriff in Childress, Texas, was contacted about a medical emergency involving Mr. Guerra on April 8, 2022. In the summary of the inmate’s death, the sheriff said that he discovered the inmate seated in his bunk and slumped forward. Foam was coming out of his mouth. Mr. Guerra was pronounced dead later that day.

Restraint Chair – Rule §351.46 Continued

In Rule §351.46 (5) (D), it states that, within a 24-hour period, the maximum total time a resident may be restrained in a restraint chair is 5 hours. Parts 6 through 8 of the same rule specify the following:

• A facility administrator or designee must authorize each use of the restraint chair;
• Whenever it is occupied by an inmate, the restraint chair must be placed where there is minimum visibility by other inmates in the facility; and
• There must be provisions for routine maintenance and inspection of the restraint chair.

The previous and above information in this series about restraint chairs is derived from guidelines for Texas juvenile detention centers. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) does not separate guidelines for restraint chairs from other types of restraints. As a result, it is suggested that restraint chairs, like other approved restraint methods, may be utilized on one inmate for as long as 24 hours. Yet, the manufacturers of restraint chairs recommend far less time as a maximum spent in one of these restrictive restraint devices.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this series.

Suggesting that a person or entity has participated in wrongdoing is not intended on this website. Providing inmates in county jails in Texas with helpful resources is the purpose of this and all posts on this site.

–Guest Contributor