# Wheelchairs in prison **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 29, 2011, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheelchairs-in-prison/594471 "2011-08-29T05:38:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![copperwindow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@copperwindow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/copperwindow)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheelchairs-in-prison/594471/1 "2011-08-29T05:38:50Z")
I have a warrant out for my arrest and play to turn myself in tomorrow, however I am disabled and confined to a wheelchair. Should I bring my own electric wheelchair with me, or will the jail provide me with one? ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheelchairs-in-prison/594471/2 "2011-08-29T06:12:30Z")
You don’t mention where this will happen. In most developed countries, the authorities will provide any medically necessary appliances and supports. However this may take a little time to organise. If you already have an appliance, why wouldn’t you bring it? Even if the authorities don’t like it, they will be embarrassed to deprive you of it until they are in a position to replace it. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheelchairs-in-prison/594471/3 "2011-08-29T06:16:27Z")
> [@copperwindow](#): > > I have a warrant out for my arrest and play to turn myself in tomorrow, however I am disabled and confined to a wheelchair. Should I bring my own electric wheelchair with me, or will the jail provide me with one? .. ---
**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:** [August 29, 2011, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheelchairs-in-prison/594471/4 "2011-08-29T07:00:25Z")
In New York, you would not be allowed to bring in your own wheelchair. You’re only allowed to have medical equipment that you are issued by the state. There are a few exceptions, like you’re allowed to come in with your own eyeglasses and dentures. But even those items cannot be replaced from an outside source - if you get a replacement it has to be issued through the medical department. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheelchairs-in-prison/594471/5 "2011-08-29T07:00:57Z")
> [@copperwindow](#): > > I have a warrant out for my arrest and play to turn myself in tomorrow, however I am disabled and confined to a wheelchair. Should I bring my own electric wheelchair with me, or will the jail provide me with one? Not enough factual information. If the warrant was issued because of the theft of an electrical wheelchair you might want to get rid of the evidence and not bring it with you. ---
**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:** [August 29, 2011, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheelchairs-in-prison/594471/6 "2011-08-29T12:39:07Z")
Individual jail policies vary. Some will allow an individual to use their own chair, after inspecting it for contraband or ability to be weaponized. Others will require you to send it home and make do with their wheelchairs. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheelchairs-in-prison/594471/7 "2011-08-29T13:16:08Z")
Have you contacted an attorney? I presume that you think that you are going to be put in jail pending a bail hearing. I’ve heard that if you speak to an attorney, they may be able to arrange things (e.g. knowing where and when to turn yourself in) so that you can see a judge re: bail more or less immediately. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheelchairs-in-prison/594471/8 "2011-08-29T19:03:45Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Individual jail policies vary. Some will allow an individual to use their own chair, after inspecting it for contraband or ability to be weaponized. Others will require you to send it home and make do with their wheelchairs. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheelchairs-in-prison/594471/9 "2011-08-29T19:06:16Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Individual jail policies vary. Some will allow an individual to use their own chair, after inspecting it for contraband or ability to be weaponized. Others will require you to send it home and make do with their wheelchairs. Weaponized wheelchairs would really turn nursing homes into an interesting place to visit and sing christmas carols, wouldn’t they? ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheelchairs-in-prison/594471/10 "2011-08-29T19:50:02Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Individual jail policies vary. Some will allow an individual to use their own chair, after inspecting it for contraband or ability to be weaponized. Others will require you to send it home and make do with their wheelchairs. +1. I have an acquaintance in the lockup right now, and I can’t even send him books–if it doesn’t come direct and unopened from a bookstore, it gets sent back. I can’t imagine anything other than the most specialist and hard-to-find medical apparatus would be allowed into any prison above the “county lockup” level. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wheelchairs-in-prison/594471/11 "2011-08-29T19:55:22Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Weaponized wheelchairs would really turn nursing homes into an interesting place to visit and sing christmas carols, wouldn’t they? I can easily see how to “weaponize” mine. It would take a lot of effort but if I was stubborn enough (like some prisoners) I think I could eventually break off a spoke and make a nice shank out of it.