Policy Text
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW
1 01/24/2011 01/01/20 25
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
_____ _____________
354 - Handcuff Policy 1 POLICY 354 HANDCUFF POLICY
354.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This procedure provides guidelines for handling situations involving handcuffing during detentions
and arrests . This policy is also applicable to Flexcuffs /Tuff-Ties, which will be considered
synonymous with handcuffs for purposes of this policy.
354.1.1 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
This policy pertains to the following CALEA Standards: 1.2.7 , 42.2.2, 70.1.6, 70.2.1
354.2 HANDCUFFING POLICY
Although recommended for most arrest situations, handcuffing is a discretionary procedure and
not an absolute rule of the department. When deciding whether to handcuff an arrestee, officers
should carefully balance officer safety concerns with factors including, but not limited to the
following:
a) The circumstances leading to the arrest ;
b) The attitude and behavior of the arrested person ;
c) The age, sex and health of the person ;
d) Whether the person has any other apparent disability .
It is not the intent of the department to dissuade officers from handcuffing all persons they believe
warrant that degree of restraint, nor is it the intent of this policy to create the atmosphere that in
order to avoid risk, an officer should handcuff all persons regardless of the circumstances . In
most situations handcuffs should be applied with the hands behind the person. Han dcuffs should
be removed as soon as the arrested person is safely confined .
354.2.1 IMPROPER USE OF HANDCUFFS
Handcuffing is never done to punish, to display authority , or as a show of force. Person s are
handcuffed only to restrain their hands to ensure officer safety. When practical, handcuffs shall be
double locked to prevent tightening , which may cause undue discomfort or injury to the hands or
wrists.
354.2.2 JUVENILES
Juveniles 14 years of age or older should be handcuffed on any misdemeanor or felony crime
arrest or when the ir acts have amounted to crimes where the officer has a reasonable suspicion
the suspect may have a desire to escape, injure themselves, injure the officer , or destroy
property.
Juveniles under 14 years of age generally will not be handcuffed unless their acts have amounted
to a dangerous felony or when they are of a state of mind which suggests a reasonable
probability of their desire to escape, injure themselves, the offi cer, or to destroy pro perty.
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW
1 01/24/2011 01/01/20 25
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDERS
_____ _____________
354 - Handcuff Policy 2 354.2.3 HANDCUFFING OF DETAINEES
Situations may arise where it may be reasonable to ha ndcuff an individual who may, after
subsequent investigation, be released prior to arrest. Such a situation is considered a detention,
rather than an actual arrest. Unless arrested, the use of handcuffs on detainees should continue
for only as long as is reasonably necessary to assure the safety of officers and others. Officers
should continuously weigh the safety interests at hand against the intrusion upon the detainee
when deciding to remove handcuffs from a detainee.
When an individual is handcuffed and released without an arrest, an FI or report of the incident ,
depending on the circumstances , shall be made to document the details of th e detention and
need for use of handcuffs.
354.2.4 HANDCUFFING OF PREGNANT ARRESTEES IN LABOR
Persons who are known to be pregnant should be restrained in the least restrictive manner that is
effective for officer safety and in no event shall these persons be restrained by the use of leg
restraints or handcuffs behind the body.
No arrestee who is in labor, delivery or recovery after delivery shall be handcuffed or restrained
except in extraordinary circumstances and only when a supervisor makes an individualized
determination that such restraints are necessary for the safety of the arrestee, officers or others
(Penal Code § 3407; Penal Code § 6030).
354.2.5 ALTERNATIVE HANDCUFFING OF DETAINEES
Situations may arise where it may be unreasonable to handcuff a detainee due to various
conditions such as medical issues, broken or missing limbs, or any other unforeseeable
circumstance where standard handcuffing restraints may not apply. In these circumstances , RIPP
Arm / Leg restraints, waist cuffs, leg cuffs , and flex cuffs may be used to restrain an individual.
The purpose of using these alternative restraint devices is to provide a level of detainee restraint
to ensure officer safety and prevent escape when a detainee cannot be handcuffed behind the
back. The application of the alternative handcuffing restraints should be used in conjunction with
each other to ensure officer safety and limit the potential of escape , but it is up to the officer’s
discretion which restraints to use.