What are the laws regarding handcuffing a citizen?

The laws regarding the use of handcuffs on citizens vary by jurisdiction, but generally speaking, law enforcement officers are allowed to use handcuffs when making an arrest or detaining someone for questioning.

However, there are certain conditions that must be met for the use of handcuffs to be considered legal.

One important factor in determining the legality of handcuffing is whether the individual is in custody or not. According to the FBI's legal digest, the court considers the language used by the officer to summon the individual and the extent to which the individual is confronted with evidence of guilt as important factors in determining if an individual is in custody. If an individual is in custody, then the police must read them their Miranda rights.

Additionally, the use of force, including the use of handcuffs, must be reasonable and proportional to the situation at hand. This means that the level of force used should be the least amount necessary to control the situation and protect the safety of all parties involved.

It is also worth noting that there are new less-lethal tools available for law enforcement such as the BolaWrap, described as a "remote handcuff", which is a handheld restraint tool that fires a lasso-like, 8-foot Kevlar tether with hooks on each end that wraps around the arms or legs of a subject, preventing them from fleeing, punching or kicking.