Get Hooked Up with the Right Cuffs

Choosing the right law enforcement restraints is a decision that goes beyond personal preference. For many officers, agency policy and standard operating procedures (SOPs) dictate the specific type of handcuffs you’re authorized and/or required to carry on duty. Yet within those guidelines, understanding the particulars of each restraint type can help you make informed decisions about performance, safety, and effectiveness in the field.

Modern law enforcement restraints fall into four primary categories: chain cuffs, hinge cuffs, rigid cuffs and disposable/single-use restraints. Each brings unique advantages depending on the situation, subject behavior, and the needs of the officer. Below is a breakdown of the applications and benefits of each.

Chain handcuffs—the classic and most versatile option

Chain cuffs are the most traditional and widely-used style among agencies. They feature a short chain linking the two cuffs, offering a balance between control and practicality. The benefits of this design are:

• Easier application: The unrestricted flexibility of chain cuffs gives officers a bit more room to maneuver, making them easier to apply on resistive or noncompliant subjects.
• Widely compatible: Chain cuffs are commonly authorized and integrated into defensive tactics training.
• Familiar for most officers: Because they’re the “standard,” officers tend to have more experience applying them quickly under stress.

It’s important to note that there’s a tradeoff for this multi-axis flexibility and ease of application. That is, chain cuffs provide less subject control once applied, which can be a factor during high-risk transports or encounters with combative individuals. Still, their user-friendly design makes them highly popular.

Hinge handcuffs—enhanced control for high-risk encounters

These cuffs replace the chain linkage with a hinge that moves on a single axis, significantly reducing wrist mobility once applied. This design offers enhanced control, especially useful during high-risk arrests or when managing subjects who may attempt to flee or fight. The benefits of the hinge design are:

• Greater subject control: The hinge limits movement, making it easier to maintain control of the subject.
• More secure immobilization: Reduced movement decreases the likelihood of cuffs being used as leverage or tools for resistance.
• Professional preference for tactical situations: Many experienced officers favor hinge cuffs for their advantage during custodial transitions.

Once again, these benefits come with a caveat, which is that hinge cuffs can be more difficult to apply smoothly, quickly and safely to a resisting subject. Proper training and repetition are key to using them effectively.

Rigid handcuffs—maximum control

Rigid handcuffs are specialized restraints featuring a solid structure with no moving linkage between the wrists. While not common as a primary duty cuff in the US, they are quite widely used internationally, and increasingly popular here in the States for transport and corrections use, thanks to their unique benefits:

• Maximum subject control: With no linkage to allow movement of the wrists, rigid cuffs provide the ultimate level of subject control and officer safety.
• Ability to gain rapid compliance: Once one side of the restraint is applied, there is significant leverage at the officer’s disposal. This can be used to gain and maintain compliance with a resistive or combative subject.
• Safer front-cuffing: Rigid cuffs are by far the safest alternative (for both officer and subject) when front-cuffing, whether for transport or when injury or physical limitation prevents cuffing behind the back. 
• Compatibility with transport systems: Advanced rigid cuffs like those produced by ASP integrate with a variety of subject/prisoner transport restraint options, including waist chains, belts and ankle cuffs.

As you might expect, the tradeoff with rigid cuffs is that they require specialized training and practice to apply safely and correctly. They are also not as compact and easy to carry as traditional chain or hinge restraints.

Disposable/single-use restraints—designed for special applications

Single-use restraints—often referred to as disposable cuffs or “flex cuffs”—are lightweight, compact, and built for specialized, high-volume or tactical applications. ASP’s version of this type of the restraint is the Tri-Fold, so I will refer to this restraint category by that name in this section. Tri-Folds are flexible polymer straps with ratchet-locking blocks. Once pulled through the blocks, the straps cannot be pulled back out. They must be cut off to be removed.

These restraints are ideal in a variety of situations:

• Mass arrests (riots, protests, civil disturbances).
• Gang units or warrant sweeps.
• Tactical teams or rapid deployment scenarios.
• Environments where traditional cuffs may not be returned, or are otherwise impractical.

Tri-Folds and other disposable restraints are not designed as primary cuffs for everyday use—they’re typically carried in the patrol bag or vehicle as an auxiliary option. They are also applied and removed differently from “hard” (standard metal) handcuffs, so they do require some training. But when it comes to high-volume use, they are a must-have.