The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings unless otherwise expressly defined within the chapter.
- (1) Approved Personal Restraint Technique--A professionally trained, curriculum-based, and competency-based restraint technique that uses a person's physical exertion to completely or partially constrain another person's body movement without the use of mechanical restraints.
(2) Approved Mechanical Restraint Devices--A professionally manufactured and commercially available mechanical device designed to aid in the restriction of a person's bodily movement. TJJD-approved mechanical restraint devices are limited to the following:
- (A) Ankle Cuffs--A metal band designed to be fastened around the ankle to restrain free movement of the legs.
- (B) Handcuffs--Metal devices designed to be fastened around the wrist to restrain free movement of the hands and arms.
- (C) Plastic Cuffs--Plastic devices designed to be fastened around the wrists or legs to restrain free movement of hands, arms, or legs. Plastic cuffs must be designed specifically for use in human restraint.
- (D) Restraint Bed--A professionally manufactured and commercially available bed or integrated bed attachments that are specifically designed to facilitate safe human restraint.
- (E) Restraint Chair--A professionally manufactured and commercially available restraint apparatus specifically designed for safe human restraint. The device restrains a subject in an upright, sitting position by restricting the subject's extremities, upper leg area, and torso with soft restraints. The apparatus may be fixed or wheeled for relocation.
- (F) Waist Belt--A cloth, leather, or metal band designed to be fastened around the waist and used to secure the arms to the sides or front of the body.
- (G) Wristlets--A cloth or leather band designed to be fastened around the wrist that may be secured to a waist belt or used in a non-ambulatory mechanical restraint.
- (3) Approved Chemical Restraint Device--A professionally manufactured and commercially available defense spray containing Oleoresin Capsicum (i.e., OC pepper spray) that has been approved by TJJD for use as allowed by this chapter.
- (4) Chemical Restraint--The application of a chemical agent on one or more residents.
- (5) Detention Supervisor--Regardless of title, the certified juvenile supervision officer serving as the assistant to the shift supervisor during the current shift.
- (6) Dorm Supervisor--Regardless of title, the highest ranking certified juvenile supervision officer assigned to a dorm during the current shift.
- (7) Four-Point Restraint--The use of approved mechanical restraint devices on each of a resident's wrists and ankles to secure the resident in a supine position to a restraint bed.
- (8) Mechanical Restraint--The application of an approved mechanical restraint device.
- (9) Non-Ambulatory Mechanical Restraint--A method of prohibiting a resident's ability to stand upright and walk with the use of a combination of approved mechanical restraint devices, cuffing techniques, and the subject's body positioning. The four-point restraint and restraint chair are examples of acceptable non-ambulatory mechanical restraints.
- (10) Personal Restraint--The application of an approved personal restraint technique.
- (11) Physical Escort--Touching or holding a resident with a minimum use of force for the purpose of directing the resident's movement from one place to another. A physical escort is not considered a personal restraint.
- (12) Protective Devices--Professionally manufactured devices used for the protection of residents or staff that do not restrict the movement of a resident. Protective devices are not considered mechanical restraint devices.
- (13) Reasonable Belief--A belief that would be held by a similarly trained staff considering the facts and circumstances known by the actor at the time of the incident.
- (14) Restraint--The application of an approved personal restraint technique, an approved mechanical restraint device, or a chemical agent to a resident so as to restrict the individual's freedom of movement.
- (15) Riot--A situation in which three or more persons in the facility intentionally participate in conduct that constitutes a clear and present danger to persons or property and substantially obstructs the performance of facility operations or a program therein. Rebellion is a form of riot.
- (16) Security Personnel--Staff persons whose primary responsibility is to patrol the facility and respond to security-related incidents.
- (17) Serious Bodily Injury--An injury that creates a substantial risk of death, serious permanent disfigurement, or extended loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ.
- (18) Shift Supervisor--The highest-ranking certified juvenile supervision officer below the facility administrator working at the facility during the current shift.
- (19) Soft Restraints--Non-metallic wristlets and anklets used as stand-alone restraint devices or in conjunction with a restraint bed or restraint chair. These devices are designed to reduce the incidence of skin, nerve, and muscle damage to the subject's extremities.
Source Note:The provisions of this §343.800 adopted to be effective January 1, 2010, 34 TexReg 7095; amended to be effective January 1, 2015, 39 TexReg 9243; amended to be effective April 1, 2026, 51 TexReg 1420.