Officers generally restrain people to gain control and to protect themselves, the restrained person, or third parties. The basic risks associated with using restraints include injury, property damage, and civil or criminal liability. Of course, negative consequences can also arise from a failure to use restraints. Restraints that cause severe injuries in the form of nerve damage can be classified as an officer use of deadly force. If this use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable, the officer has violated the suspect's Fourth Amendment rights. Any use of force by a police officer must meet Federal case and statutory law. While most States follow Federal precedent, there are some exceptions with which officers must be familiar. One important collateral issue examined here is the restraint of confused or mentally disturbed individuals. To reduce or eliminate risks associated with the use of restraints, departments should allow the use of only NIJ-approved handcuffs, prohibit the use of thumbcuffs, discourage hog-tying techniques, direct officers to check restraint tightness and to double-lock metallic restraints, and require restraint decontamination after use. 18 notes