Recent incidents in the United States have raised concerns about the practice of handcuffing young girls at police stations and during police interventions.
One notable case from Texas involved the handcuffing of a 10-year-old girl with learning disabilities after an incident at her school. The police, responding to reports from school staff, handcuffed the child just outside a restroom and walked her to the school office, later placing her in a squad car. The incident was recorded on police body cameras. The girl’s father, himself a former police officer, expressed outrage after reviewing the footage, arguing the arrest should not have occurred, especially in light of Texas’ “No Kids in Cuffs” law. This statute prohibits restraining students in fifth grade or below unless they pose a serious risk of harm to themselves or others[1].
In Honolulu, a federal appellate court ruled that police officers could be sued for allegedly using excessive force in the 2020 handcuffing and arrest of a 10-year-old Black girl at her elementary school. The child, who had a known disability, was handcuffed after participating in drawing a cartoon. Despite complying with all orders and being surrounded by adults, the officers restrained her with adult handcuffs, placed her in a squad car, and transported her to a police station—where no charges were ever filed. The court found this use of force “completely unnecessary and excessively intrusive” under the circumstances[5].
Another case in Syracuse involved the mistaken handcuffing of an 11-year-old girl during a stolen car investigation. Deputies realized their mistake only after the girl had been in handcuffs for seven minutes and released her with an apology. Law enforcement officials cited the need for caution due to “rampant juvenile crime” as justification for immediately using handcuffs, a practice they regard as routine in such situations[3].
Standard police procedures in the U.S. require probable cause or a warrant for an arrest and the use of handcuffs for restraint, typically to ensure officer safety or prevent escape. Detained individuals, including juveniles, should be informed of their rights, including the right to remain silent and the right to counsel upon arrival at the police station. However, best practices and local regulations—including state laws or court rulings—may impose limitations on the use of restraints on minors, particularly those with disabilities or in elementary school[1][5].
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