# What are the usual rules on having a hook in US prisons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 9, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258 "2012-10-09T21:23:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258/21 "2012-10-10T19:10:11Z")
Come to think of it, a hook is really unpractical as a prosthetic. It might be appealing to traditionalists or fans of pirate movies, but other than that, there are really better solutions. After all, Abu Hamza may appreciate the services provided by the Bureau of Prisons. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258/22 "2012-10-10T19:21:08Z")
I’m surprised he’d be allowed a hook at all, but just know that what may be allowable in a prison cell may not be allowed in court. In court, all bets are off. He does not need a hook to sit there and/or answer questions. And a prisoner in chains while in court is probably not in chains in his cell. Any contact with the public, however defined, is as secure as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258/23 "2012-10-10T19:28:29Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Of course, the prisoner is not someone they are going to make special exception for. So, if they can justify removing something that is “nice to have” for him, they will justify it. > > After all, military prison has so far justified keeping Bradley Manning in solitary, naked, with nothing but a “blanket” like a thick rubber pad, 24-hour-a-day lights-on - “for his own protection”. I think for some foreigner accused of an actual violent crime, they can do whatever they feel like. See, it’s this attitude that has meant it has taken many years to extradite him and to be honest I’m still not convinced it was the right thing to do. Especially with barbar ahmed who hasn’t committed a crime in the US as far as I’m concerned. All your prisons are scary but your supermax ones… wow, I think the death penalty is less barbaric than life in one of them. I remind you by the way that the guy in the subject has not been convicted of any crime in the US yet. If it were practical he should be free to walk around the US completely freely doing whatever he wants so long as he made the trial dates. If that impractical for any reason, everything from home arrest onwards should be considered in a civilised society. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258/24 "2012-10-10T20:03:18Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > I’m surprised that a hook would be allowed in a prison anywhere in the world. Prison guards are usually concerned that inmates convert a toothbrush or a comb into a deadly weapon. Having somebody walk around with two metal hooks must be absolutely out of the question. The fact is that there is far less violence in English prisons than in American, for whatever reason. (The absence of gangs may have much to do with it.) Thus removing the hook, while seen as unnecessary in the UK, is a wise precaution in the American context. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258/25 "2012-10-10T20:17:50Z")
So I’m assuming a cast would be allowed, even though an inmate could really do a number on someone with it? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258/26 "2012-10-10T20:47:52Z")
**Simple Lictus** , may I ask where you are posting from? > [@aldiboronti](#): > > The fact is that there is far less violence in English prisons than in American, for whatever reason. (The absence of gangs may have much to do with it.) Thus removing the hook, while seen as unnecessary in the UK, is a wise precaution in the American context. And as others have observed, it’s a wise precaution for the hooked prisoner himself, as it removes the temptation for someone rip it off his arm. I haven’t spoken with the fellow my ownself but I suspect he would prefer to avoid that. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258/27 "2012-10-10T22:59:02Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > So I’m assuming a cast would be allowed, even though an inmate could really do a number on someone with it? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258/28 "2012-10-12T17:59:13Z")
I’m hoping the discussion is about one of those gripping metal loop prosthetics, not a traditional Peter-Pan hook? Still, any nifty hardware could be considered dangerous with the right degree of paranoia. I know I would not like to be attacked by someone swinging a blunt metal object at the end of their arm - someone could lose an eye. (A cast would be necessary or the prisoner wouldn’t heal. Stripped of its initial use, it would crumble better than a metal hook. I’m reminded of the Sam Gross cartoon, where the doctor is telling Captain Hook, “You have to stop scratching your ass…”) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258/29 "2012-10-12T18:43:40Z")
No, Abu Hamza wears an old-fashioned Captain Hook hook. There was one shot of him mugging by holding up the hook to frame his remaining eye like a metal eyebrow. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258/30 "2012-10-12T18:51:20Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > So I’m assuming a cast would be allowed, even though an inmate could really do a number on someone with it? I’ve seen prisoners who’ve had broken arms refuse to have their cast removed after the bone heals because they want to keep the cast on as a potential weapon or as a hiding spot for contraband. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258/31 "2012-10-12T19:02:31Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’ve seen prisoners who’ve had broken arms refuse to have their cast removed after the bone heals because they want to keep the cast on as a potential weapon or as a hiding spot for contraband. OMG, anyone who would volunteer for that level of itching must be utterly desperate to defend themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258/32 "2012-10-12T19:21:17Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > OMG, anyone who would volunteer for that level of itching must be utterly desperate to defend themselves. The individuals I had to deal with in these situations tended more towards seeing it as offensive weaponry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-usual-rules-on-having-a-hook-in-us-prisons/637258.md?page=1)