Albert Pena’s death in August 2020 occurred approximately ten hours after he was booked into Starr County Jail. The 30-year-old had been placed in a Wrap Restraint Device in the Rio Grande City, Texas, lockup because he exhibited behavior that was a threat to himself.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has approved the use of the Wrap Restraint Device. Restraint chairs are controversial devices that have also been approved for use in county Texas jails. As explored previously in this series, there are strict guidelines that jailers are required to follow when restraint devices are used. It is known that health can be threatened by restraint devices, which may be why guidelines for the use of restraints are found under the Health Services section.

When annual jail inspections are conducted by inspectors with TCJS, areas of non-compliance include instances when rules are not followed in connection with restraints. Watchdog groups track jail non-compliance in Texas and point out instances when inmates have not been checked every 15 minutes as required. Supervision in general is a proven effective method for preventing inmates from suffering injury and death. When the supervision is in connection with restraint devices, it is even more crucial than other times because it is known that the inmates are under a potential direct threat of injury or death.

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

This website is meant to provide assistance to county jail prisoners currently or previously detained in Texas. There is never an intention on this website to suggest that wrongs on the part of persons or institutions have occurred.

–Guest Contributor