Police say it's a safe way of restraining violent prisoners.
Opponents say it's something out of the Middle Ages.
The chair is designed to hold the most violent prisoner at the wrists and ankles and across the shoulders, waist and chest. But human rights activists say this chair, that is found in police departments and agencies across the world, has evolved into an instrument of torture. In March of 1997, officers at a Utah state prison secured Michael Valent, an agitated, mentally-ill prisoner, in one of the chairs. After 12 hours, Valent was released, and as he walked to the shower he collapsed and died. The medical examiner found that during the prolonged time in the chair a blood clot formed in his leg, and when he started walking it traveled to his lung and killed him.