I’m asking this in the context of dealing with mobility aids (canes, crutches, prostheses) that have the potential to be used as weapons. Besides the medical aspects, I’m interested in the process from arrest to incarceration.
I sometimes use a cane because of pain in my legs. I’m fairly confident it would be crap at dealing injury to anyone who’s used to escorting often-violent people anywhere.
Bumping once in the hopes that Qadgop or Nemo will see this and comment.
I would imagine that anyone who provably needs a walker or cane wouldn’t be able to swing it very hard to use it as a weapon, without falling over - thus limiting the amount of damage s/he could do. Of course, it could still make the person unapproachable as they could swing it (from sitting down) at anyone who got too close. Still, if the guard were careful, I’d bet it’s easy to wrest the object away. I knew someone whose father was both disabled and abusive, and they used to take his cane/crutches away when he was sitting down, so he couldn’t use the thing to hit them.
If canes, crutches, prostheses, etc. are medically necessary, they are issued. If misuse is observed, consequences ensue, from loss of privileges to confinement in segregation, to assault charges being filed.
One inmate lost his splints for a time when he sharpened one and tried to stab a guard with it.
We still supplied him with splints so he could walk distances, but only after he got out of segregation (about a year later).
One inmate who used his prosthesis to hide contraband had to make do with crutches before being issued a stripped down model with far less ability to hide contraband in it. Any further misuse will result in loss of the prosthesis. Two legs aren’t medically necessary if one has crutches and the ability to use them.
Qadgop, thanks for the answer.
Mama Zappa, thanks for the bump.