Ohio Agencies Turn to Color Shackles to Avoid Confusion

HAMILTON, Ohio — In Butler County, officials took color-coding to another level as they augmented color-coded inmate uniforms with colored inmate transportation restraints.

Local police and sheriff’s departments found that officers were losing the virtually indistinguishable standard stainless restraints as hundreds of inmates from different jurisdictions were shackled and unshackled daily for court appearances.

With standard restraints costing up to $30 each, the losses started to add up and several local law enforcement agencies began using colored handcuffs and leg irons in order to keep better track of restraints used to transport inmates between jail and court.

Butler County Sheriff’s Department now shackles its inmates in yellow restraints, while the police department in the county seat of Hamilton uses orange handcuffs. The distinctive colors ensure that inmate restraints are returned to the correct law enforcement agency, officials say.