Handcuffs & leg shackles

[Dark Angel]

Why is it that when someone is sentenced to prison, they are handcuffed and shackled when they are escorted out of Court? Is it done to humiliate the prisoner or is it in case he/she tries to escape?

Secondly, does being handcuffed and shackled physically hurt the prisoner? I know none of you have experienced this, hopefully, but do you know. 

[hung6]

The handcuffs don't hurt unless they are done up too tight. They can become a little uncomfortable when behind the back. Never experienced leg shackles.

[ALLO]

from experience i can say it hurt! i got arested when i was pregnant, and the cop cuffed my hands behind my back, and then shackled my legs to a bench! it hurt! i should have reported the cop! it's a very long story, but to make it short, some girl ssaid some nasty things to my mom and i threw some candy at her. she threw things back at me and never got in trouble! needless to say i don't like cops anymore! but piont being it hurts if you get an ****-**** for a cop.

[bernardo]

I believe that in the USA it is standard practice to handcuff anybody who is being arrested, partly because that is the time when they are most likely to do harm to themselves (let alone other people).  Presumably the same thing applies when transferring prisoners.

[mystress]

I don't think we use leg shackles in the UK?

[Andy008]

I think its done strictly for safety, especially when dealing with violent, desperate crack addicts, illegal immigrants, and the other general scum who infiltrate our daily lives. I have the misfortune to live in Southampton, so I should know.