If an arrestee has only one hand and is not wearing a belt/pants with belt loops, what can officers do to restrain them?

• A. Use a waist chain
• B. Use ankle shackles
• C. Use leg irons
• D. Use a second pair of handcuffs on the same hand

Answer: (A)

When restraining someone who has only one usable hand and isn’t wearing belt loops, a waist chain is the practical choice because it lets you tether the cuffed wrist to a body-worn restraint around the torso without relying on belt loops. This keeps the restrained arm under control while still allowing officers to move the arrestee safely and efficiently during transport. It avoids depending on belt loops, which aren’t available, and it minimizes the risk of the arrestee reaching for belongings or attempting to interfere with proceedings.

Ankle shackles or leg irons focus on the legs rather than controlling the upper body, which isn’t ideal when one hand is disabled and you need secure, continuous control. Using a second pair of handcuffs on the same hand is impractical and could cause unnecessary pressure or circulation issues without improving overall control.