The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has established standards for city and county jail operations designed to ensure that inmates receive medical care when they are in restraints. In fact, the rules regarding restraints are listed in the chapter about health services for inmates.

The following are details on medical care that inmates are to receive when in restraints, per §273.6-Restraints:

• §273.6(1)- Before an inmate in a Texas jail is placed in restraints, his or her medical condition must be assessed by the appropriate staff.
• §273.6(2)- TCJS requires jailers to ensure that inmates are not restrained in a manner or position that would worsen any existing physical infirmities.
• §273.6(3)- When an inmate is in restraints, the blood circulation to his or her extremities must be assessed in intervals not to exceed every 15 minutes.
• §273.6(4)- When an inmate is detained in restraints, medical care must be provided at least every 2 hours. These medical checks must include an offer of food and water, exercising the extremities, changing position, offering toilet facilities, taking vital signs, and checking for the need for medications. Documentation of these checks must be made in detail.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, and this continuing series.

Helping inmates who are now or were previously detained in a municipal or county jail in Texas is the purpose of this website. There is no intention on this site of implicating an individual or organization in acts of wrongdoing.

–Guest Contributor