Abelly chain (also known as a waist chainorMartin chain) is a physical restraint worn by prisoners, consisting of a chain around the waist, to which the prisoner's hands may be chained or cuffed. Sometimes the ankles are also connected by means of longer chains.
Such restraints are often used in the United Statesincourtrooms, or for transporting prisoners, or in other public situations as a safeguard against escape.[1] They are used above all when detainees are to be restrained over a longer period of time, for example during transport or at court hearings. Belly chains are used because there still remains a relatively large freedom of movement to the detainee when their hands are cuffed in front of the body. As an alternative, the hands could be cuffed behind the detainee's back, but this will soon inflict discomfort and even pain when being handcuffed like this for a longer period of time. Therefore, as a more gentle but almost equally secure alternative to cuffing the detainee's hands behind their back, the hands are cuffed to a belly chain and thus shackled to the detainee's waist.[2]
There are essentially two types of belly chains:
Leather or nylon belts are often used instead of belly chains. These restraint belts have a metal ring on the front, through which the handcuffs are plugged and then put on the detainee's wrists. The belt is then placed around the detainee's waist and secured with a buckle; some models can also be locked with a padlock.[15]
The following pictures illustrate the different types of restraints and their application:
