"Are spit masks reusable?" Our interview with Hollis Moore, President of PX: Direct Jail Products; a company that sells jail equipment to both correctional facilities and the general public.

How big an industry is this?

You'd have to check with American Correctional Association for the figure. All I know is that many of the equipment manufacturers are backed up on orders for two or more months.

How did you get involved in this business?

I started a web site to sell orange jumpsuits, then I added a bunch of other suppliers to strengthen the image. We showed up in a lot of internet searches and now sell all manner of correctional supplies.

Do you sell only to jails or individuals too?

Both. Ninety percent of our sales are to corrections, law enforcement and the military; another few percent to production companies. Come Halloween we go crazy selling inmate uniforms as instant costumes.

When would a full-body restraint need to be used instead of handcuffs or a restraint chair?

A full-body restraint or restraint chair is used when an individual is actively resisting and needs supervised "quiet time." Handcuffs have a metal edge and the individual could harm himself struggling against handcuffs.

Is it true that handcuffs get tighter the more the prisoner moves?

No, not professional handcuffs when properly applied. They double lock so the circumference is fixed once they are set in place.

Can you elaborate on the different types of handcuffs and how they are used?

Colored handcuffs have a number of uses - to identify inmate security level, to identify the law enforcement agency so that the handcuffs can be returned in inter-agency transfers, to identify the reason for restraint. The disposable nylon cuffs are typically used in riot control, crowd control or military situations where it is impractical to carry quantities of other types of restraint.

Are restraints foolproof?

Nothing is foolproof. Though when properly applied and the subject is supervised it is unlikely he will be able to escape.

Which restraint apparatus is most effective to subdue the most violent of inmates?

Typically a restraint bed or restraint chair is used until the individual becomes less agitated and more responsive to authority.

How do suicide watch garments differ from regular inmate uniforms?

Suicide watch garments use a heavy, non-tearable material that cannot be fashioned into nooses or torn apart for other self-destructive actions.

Why is there a two-hour limit on how long an inmate can be placed in a restraint chair?

That is a manufacturer's recommendation. Each agency will have its own protocol. The restraint chair is only intended for short term, until an agitated individual calms down.

Under what circumstances would an inmate require capture blindfolds or capture hoods?

These are not intended for correctional situations. They were developed for the military and other government agency training and for prisoner transport in war zones.

Are blindfolds, hoods and spit masks discarded after each use or are they recycled?

Blindfolds and hoods are able to be sanitized. Spit masks are discarded.