According to a report about the passing of David Salinas, the 32-year-old was shot by an officer with the Houston Police Department in a pre-custodial event in Houston, Texas. Mr. Salinas was pronounced dead on July 14, 2021, shortly after being gunshot.

Restraint Chairs

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) provides guidelines for using restraint chairs. One of the minimum jail standards for Texas county jails is that restraint devices cannot be used for punishment purposes.

Studies reveal that restraint chairs are frequently associated with activities that are not permitted. For instance, in jails across the nation, many inmates have been tased while in a restraint chair.

The interpretation of when it is appropriate to use one of these restrictive devices has been among the related complications. In a jurisdiction outside of Texas, a man was arrested in connection with a sit-in. During the booking process, he refused to speak. Police officers strapped him into a restraint chair, which completely immobilized him. Reports show that a health professional checked on him every 15 minutes as required. He was kept in the chair for 8 hours.

The controversy surrounding this incident was addressed by the police, who explained their reasoning for using the restraint chair in this instance. They said that the chair was not used as punishment in this matter. Same as in Texas, in that particular jurisdiction, restraint chairs are supposed to be used strictly when an inmate is behaving in a manner that can cause injury to himself or others.

According to the police, the man posed a danger to himself because his lack of cooperation included refusal to remove his belt, shoelaces, and other belongings that are not allowed in cells. Placing him in a restraint chair was a safety precaution, police said.

See Part 1 and this ongoing series to learn more.

There is never an intention on this website to suggest that any person or any organization has been a participant in wrongdoing.  Posts are added with the goal of helping inmates currently and formerly incarcerated in jails located in Texas counties.

–Guest Contributor