Contact: Frank Kelch
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
Ph: (602) 876-1903
F_Kelch@MCSO.Maricopa.gov

Eight years ago, with a growing number of Close Custody inmates who required a higher degree of security, the Maricopa County (Ariz.) Sheriff's Office elected to devise its own close custody restraints.  Using old handcuffs, chains and padlocks, the Sheriff's Office has been able to create devices to secure its close custody inmates at a minimal cost.

The Sheriff's Office utilizes surplus handcuffs, or cuffs that have broken for one reason or another, in its system.  When only one cuff of the pair breaks, the chain between the cuffs is cut and the good cuffs are attached to a six-foot chain with small padlocks.  The cuffs are attached so that the inmates' hands cannot come in contact with each other.

The chain is placed around the inmate's waist and secured with a padlock in the front.  The remaining portion of the chain is placed between the inmate's legs and brought up to be secured with a second pad lock at the inmate's back. The small padlock is then placed within the swivel of the handcuff.  When positioning the cuff onto the chain, it is necessary to place the cuff so the inmate's hand is on his side, just behind where his side pockets would be. By utilizing placing his hands there, two tasks are accomplished.  First, the inmate's hands will never touch and, second, it removes the inmate's center of gravity, which is typical when an inmate's hands are placed in front of him.

The cost of creating this system to Maricopa County is almost nothing; the money has already been spent on the cuffs and the chains and locks are purchased in bulk. The final estimated cost is approximately $10.00 per restraint.

These restraints are utilized for all of the county's Close Custody inmates who are moved to and from court and medical appointments.