Our department issued a new policy a few years ago that all inmates going to any court must be cuffed, belted and shackled and the judges were in favor of that for security reasons. The only time inmates are not cuffed, belted and shackled is during trial. At a trial they are in civilian clothes (usually shirt, pants, tie and jacket). It is customary to put an electronic belt on the inmate. The belt is battery operated, the power unit is placed in the inmates back which can deliver 50,000 volts if the inmate tries to escape or go after the judge, jury, or court officers.

It’s all a bunch of tree hugging hippie crap

I can understand the different phylosiphy. We have, in our attempt to protect “Freedom of the Press”, allowed (at times) court proceedings to become a circus. It takes a strong judge to keep the proceedings in line.

That’s another thing about our system. There are no cameras allowed in a sitting court room nor is any live broadcast allowed.

It is gonna make for good reality TV. There are already incidents of UFC in courtrooms.

With us neither a Juvenile nor an adult can be handcuffed while appearing in court. Because of the presumption of innocence on that charge it is felt that to do so could influence a jury if they see them in cuffs.

It was reported today that the State Supreme Court handed down a decesion that Juvenile offenders will no longer be restrained in the courtroom unless the Judge orders it if he feels the Juvenile is a threat to his own safety or the safety of others, or he feels that the offender may disrupt the proceedings.

One of the advocates said that this was a great move forward as to how we treat juveniles. She said that it was a shame seeing juveniles brought into the court shackled. That it could damage their self esteem and self image.

In the words of one of my mentors, Bugs Bunny…“What a Moorune!”