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Whether y'all are a police officer, bail bondsman, or security guard, handcuffing people may be a daily occurrence in your line of work. Knowing how to use handcuffs correctly is important for ensuring that either y'all or the person handcuffed are not injured or to avoid being surprised by an escape from the handcuffs. Go on yourself and your suspect safe by being knowledgeable about your handcuffs and the different techniques needed when using them.

  1. 1

    Take control of the state of affairs. It's hard and inadvisable to handcuff someone who is actively resisting. Before get-go to handcuff an uncooperative suspect, concentrate on controlling them offset. If you can't restrain them with your easily or trunk it might be all-time to step back and apply a non-lethal method to subdue them, such equally a Taser or an expandable baton. [1]

    • Always be ready for resistance, even if the suspect seems to be cooperative. If you are within six feet of a suspect you need to human activity as if you are anticipating a struggle. Speak confidently, keep your grip on firm, and apply the handcuffs swiftly. [2]

  2. ii

    Restrict your suspect'southward field of vision. If your suspect can't run into the bodily procedure of handcuffing they are unlikely to resist in an effective way. This means handcuffing them from behind while facing a wall or other large object.

    • Try to avoid handcuffing a person directly against an object like a wall or car. If they decide to resist, information technology volition requite them a surface to leverage confronting and they may injure themselves or you.

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  3. 3

    Keep your residual. Stand up with your anxiety slightly parted and knees slightly bent so that you lot can go on your rest in the face of an set on. If your suspect begins violently resisting and you aren't properly balanced they may knock yous over, resulting to injury in yourself and the possible loss of your suspect.

    • While keeping your residual, try to limit theirs. Accept the suspect spread their feet apart and bend slightly forward, or handcuff them while they're kneeling on the ground.

  4. iv

    Carry handcuffs correctly. Handcuffs should be stored in a loaded position, pregnant that the shackle jaw should be pushed through the ratchet in the trunk of the cuff until it's virtually through. Check that the double lock is not already engaged––this should only be operated after cuffing.

    • Be knowledgeable about your handcuffs. Always read the transmission in advance then that you will know the information you need to know. There are several kinds of handcuffs so you need to be familiar with your own.

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  1. ane

    Handcuff your suspect with their arms behind their dorsum. This technique of handcuffing has several variations. Essentially, the suspect interlaces their fingers behind their backs to be handcuffed, locking their wrists and elbows and reducing the effectiveness of any resistance.

  2. 2

    Enquire the doubtable to identify their hands behind their backs. Their palms should be touching and their fingers entwined in a "prayer" position. If the doubtable begins to resist abort, you can either hold the wrists together or hold the pinkies together to restrain them.

  3. iii

    Concord the suspect's left wrist and press the bow of the handcuff against the wrist. Try non to remove your hands from the doubtable's wrists; every bit they are standing, they could hands run if they get gratis of your grip.

    • The chain of the handcuff should be coming out of the back function of the manus and further from the body. In this position, the suspect tin't move their hands under their legs and in front of their bodies.[3]

  4. 4

    Press the bow of the second gage against the suspect'due south right wrist and secure the gage. After the cuff is secured, lock the secondary locking mechanism. If your cuffs don't have one, be sure to double check that the cuffs aren't too tight.[4]

    • A double-locking machinery is a lock that ensures the cuffs can't become tighter once they're placed on the suspect, reducing the risk of injury.[5]

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  1. ane

    Handcuff your suspect with their hands behind their head. This technique, sometimes chosen the LAPD technique, has the suspect interlace their fingers behind their heads earlier handcuffing. This can occur in a standing or kneeling position.

  2. 2

    Stand behind the suspect and call back the handcuffs. Grasp the suspect'southward left wrist in your hand and press the "bow" of the handcuff against their wrist. Cuff the wrist, making sure that the gage isn't as well tight.

  3. 3

    Move the cuffed wrist behind their back. Grasp the cuffed wrist and move it in a round move away from the body and behind the suspect's back. The concatenation of the handcuff should be coming out of the gage away from the body. The suspect's other paw should however exist resting on the back of their head.

  4. 4

    Move the other hand backside the suspect'south dorsum. Holding the cuffed wrist in one hand, grasp the suspect'southward right wrist and move it in a circular motion behind the suspects back next to their cuffed hand. Printing the suspect'due south hands together, palms facing outward, and extend your left hand to restrain both of their wrists.

    • Some people find information technology helpful to hold the suspect's thumbs together to help restrain them.

  5. 5

    Gage the doubtable's other wrist. Effort to complete this step swiftly as the discipline can still resist with one hand free. If the doubtable begins to struggle, subdue them before continuing to handcuff them. If the handcuffs have a double locking mechanism, this is the time to lock it.

    • Always double bank check the tightness of the handcuffs. You should be able to slide your smallest finger between the cuffs and the person'southward wrist. Leaving the cuffs too tight can result in nerve harm to the suspect.[6]

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  1. i

    Handcuff your doubtable with their hands in front of their body. There are some people that demand to be handcuffed in front of their bodies. This list can include pregnant women and people with limited mobility in their artillery.[7]

  2. ii

    Inquire your suspect to press their hands together in a "prayer" position. This limits their mobility and gives you greater command. Concord their wrists together from the underside of their hands, close to their pinkies. If they brainstorm to resist, you tin hold their pinkies together and have greater control.

  3. iii

    Press the bow of the handcuff confronting their right wrist and lock the gage into place. Place the other cuff on the suspect quickly and accurately. Do this by grasping the suspect'due south wrists with your left hand so removing your correct hand. The suspect should have pressure on their wrists at all times.

  4. four

    Printing the bow of the cuff confronting their left wrist and lock the cuff into identify. The chain should exist coming out from the hands and away from the body. If your cuffs have a double locking mechanism, now is the time to lock it.

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Add together New Question

  • Question

    Are handcuffs used on hands or legs of accused?

    Community Answer

    Hands, hence the name "handcuffs". For the legs yous'll want legcuffs, but these are not ordinarily necessary.

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  • Handcuff earlier searching a person. This will ensure that the person is unable to get agree of weapons or items that can be used as weapons against you.

  • E'er accept a spare key likewise as the usual key for handcuffs. Just in case.

  • At that place are many videos of proper techniques bachelor on the internet. Do your enquiry thoroughly so that you are prepared.

Bear witness More Tips

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  • Double locking volition prevent accidental tightening of handcuffs on the wrist by the officer or the subject.

  • Do not handcuff a person to yourself or to a vehicle or stock-still object.

  • Handcuffs that have been used often are easier to escape from than newer, less used ones.

  • Although the handcuffs must securely fasten on the person, do not cutting off the circulation of the person'due south manus and wrist. This may cause injury to the handcuffed person.

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Things Yous'll Need

  • Handcuffs (and accompanying manual)
  • Key for handcuffs (to open and double lock), plus a spare for emergencies

References

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