Q: I recently saw a newspaper photo of a terrorist suspect, handcuffed in front, being escorted by police. That was in contrast to the recent APS trial where the defendants, immediately after conviction of non-violent crimes, were handcuffed behind their backs. What are police procedures regarding front and rear handcuffing?
—Phil Miller, Avondale
A: It's standard operating procedure for law enforcement officials to handcuff a suspect behind their back, Bill Hallsworth, the jail and court services coordinator for the Georgia Sheriffs Association, told Q&A on the News.
Cuffs can be applied in the front for various reasons, including if there are physical limitations of the defendant.
The association trains deputies, and the Georgia Peace Officer Standard and Training Council sets standards for police officers, but the specific rules of each courtroom are left up to the judge, who can diverge from recommendations.
It’s sometimes difficult to tell if a suspect or prisoner is restrained, Hallsworth said.
Some courts sometimes use a stun belt to restrain defendants without the need for handcuffs.
The REACT, or Remote Electronically Activated Controlled Technology, belts are expensive, Hallsworth said. They’re activated by an officer near the suspect, if needed.
Q: Has Mike Smith, the former coach of the Atlanta Falcons, accepted another coaching job?
—Wilton Marchman, Hampton
Q: Smith reportedly will not coach in 2015. Smith, who was fired Dec. 29 after seven seasons as coach of the Falcons, initially was mentioned as a candidate for the defensive coordinator position with the Oakland Raiders, but Ken Norton Jr. was hired to fill that position.
Andy Johnston wrote this column; Allison Floyd contributed. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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