San Augustine County Jail is in San Augustine, Texas 75972 at 219 N Harrison Street. It has a bed capacity of 34, and the jail’s contact phone number is (936) 275-2424. The San Augustine County Sheriff is in charge of San Augustine County Jail operations. Like all local and county Texas jails, San Augustine County Jail must operate according to the standards set out by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS). Non-compliant jails receive heightened scrutiny and may also get assistance from TCJS to bring them up to code.

Restraint Chairs

TCJS has approved various restraint devices to equip jailers for keeping inmates under control in volatile situations that threaten harm to themselves or others. Restraint chairs are among the TCJS-approved devices.

In recent years, restraint chairs have been in the news as a result of research conducted by watchdog groups. These mechanical restraint devices render individuals helpless. They can be strapped at the arms and legs, though sometimes also the torso and head. The fear is that jailers will abuse inmates in these situations, and there are records showing that such fears are valid.

In one high-profile case outside of Texas, a 62-year-old inmate who was the son of a famous singer died in a restraint chair. The circumstances involved denial of his medication for emphysema and depression and being doused with pepper spray by a jailer while in the restraint chair.

TCJS provides strict guidelines for how restraints can be used in Texas jails, and a requirement of treating inmates humanely is among them.

This site’s posts are purposed to assist prisoners whose rights might have been violated while incarcerated in a city or county jail in Texas. There is never an intention to infer impropriety on the part of an institution or individual.

–Guest Contributor