Cuffs or belt first?

[Probie1]

I was recently re-assigned to the juvenile prisoner transport unit in my department. We are required to use leather belts with a metal loop which the handcuffs fit through and shackles on all prisoners. I recently noticed that my partner puts the cuffs on the juvenile first with the belt hanging from them. I personally put the belt on first then put the juvs hands in the cuffs. Anyway my question is which one is tactically correct? I have the prisoner put his hands on his head while strapping the belt on the turn him around , i feel i have more control of the prisoner and he doesnt have a 10 lb leather belt with a steel buckle to whack me with. What do u guys think or know?

[nsedet]

If the subject's hands on on his head while you are putting a belt on him, you have zero control over him...depending on how you are standing and the subject's size, he gets at least one free elbow or forearm to your head from that position. Doing it your way is fine, but requires two people...one grabs the hands (interlaced on the subject's head) and pulls him backwards, slightly off balance; second officer puts the belt on. Each officer then grabs an arm and brings the subject's hands to the front, where they are cuffed.

Multiple approaches, it comes down to personal preference...find what methods are safest, and most comfortable for you, and use that method. Your partner's method is fine, too, provided that the subject is always physically controlled by an officer, and not free to use the cuffs and belt as a weapon.