A custodial death report on 32-year-old David Salinas was filed by the Houston Police Department in Houston, Texas. Mr. Salinas died on July 14, 2021, following a pre-custodial incident. The cause of death, per the medical examiner, was a homicide, which includes justifiable homicide.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) sets guidelines for operations in Texas county jails. Restraints are approved by TCJS in one particular kind of circumstance. A restraint system can be placed on an inmate if his or her behavior is a threat of potential harm to the inmate and/or others. In each incident in which a restraint device is used, the least restrictive device necessary must be chosen to mitigate the situation. For the most extreme cases of potentially harmful behavior, TCJS has determined that it is appropriate to use a restraint chair.

Restraint Chairs

Many jurisdictions in the US have opted to ban the use of restraint chairs because of evidence that emerged regarding the potential for inmates to be harmed and potentially killed. Manufacturers of restraint chairs invariably include detailed information in their instructions indicating the possibility of injury or death in the use of the chair.

Learn more about the hazards associated with restraint chairs in this ongoing series.

 There is never an intention on this website to suggest that people or entities have been participants in wrongs. Each of the posts added to this site is intended as a resource that could help current and previous inmates in county jails in Texas.

–Guest Contributor