What “Being Blackboxed” Really Means in the BOP

Most people who’ve been through federal transport know the term “blackboxed.” It’s one of the most hated restraint setups in the system, and for good reason. Staff claim it’s about “security,” but anyone who has worn one know exactly what it is: a device that causes pain, restricts basic movement, and makes transport harder than it needs to be.

I’ve been blackboxed many times solely because of my offense. It had nothing to do with behavior, risk, or escape concerns. It was about inflicting discomfort because policy allowed it and officers used it indiscriminately.

Here’s the real story behind the blackbox: how it was invented, what it was designed for, and how agencies misuse it today.

What a Handcuff Security Cover Is

A handcuff security cover is a device locked over a pair of standard chain-link handcuffs. It’s usually made of ABS plastic or metal and has a hinged, box-like design. Once applied, it:

1. Covers the keyholes, preventing tampering.
2. Converts chain handcuffs into rigid restraints, severely restricting wrist movement.

These devices are used in combination with a waist chain, which fixes the handcuffs at the waist. Without a cover, an inmate can still raise their hands enough to eat, drink, or use the restroom. With a blackbox, even those basic functions become nearly impossible.

Where the Blackbox Came From

There’s a common myth in prisons that the blackbox was “invented by an inmate.” That’s completely false.

The first blackbox handcuff cover was invented in 1971 by two Michigan State Correctional Officers, J.D. Cullip and K.E. Stefanson. They designed it to add another layer of security by protecting the handcuff keyways and limiting wrist mobility during the transport of high-risk inmates. Their invention was patented in 1973 and is still manufactured by the original maker of the “Black Box.”

Even the Manufacturer Says It Shouldn’t Be Used for Transport

The original manufacturer has openly acknowledged something officers and inmates have known for decades: Box-type handcuff covers are not appropriate for use during normal transports.

They convert the handcuffs into a rigid straight angle that applies pressure to the wrists, cutting circulation and causing pain and distress. The device was intended for short-term control of an unruly inmate, not hours-long bus rides or cross-country transfers.

Originally for “high-custody” inmates

Blackboxing was intended for maximum-security or high-risk individuals during transport outside the secure perimeter. In the federal system, the blackbox is applied inconsistently. Some institutions follow the old rules. Others put every inmate in a blackbox no matter their custody level. Private prison transport companies use it as standard equipment.

Many people with sex-offense convictions are automatically blackboxed, even if they have no disciplinary history, no violence, and no escape risk. I’ve experienced that firsthand, multiple times.

The device restricts basic bodily functions

And this is where the abuse becomes obvious. Without a blackbox, an inmate cuffed to a belly chain can raise their hands enough to:

• eat
• drink
• use the bathroom

With a blackbox:

• hands can barely move inches
• you cannot pull your pants down far enough to use the restroom
• you cannot bring food or a drink to your mouth

I’ve seen men urinate on themselves on transport buses because they physically could not manage their clothing. Not because they were dangerous. Simply because the restraint system didn’t allow it. Most inmates see it as intentional torture. Many staff will quietly tell you the same thing.

Why It Causes Physical Pain

Because the box forces the handcuffs into a rigid, straight position, the wrists cannot sit naturally. Depending on whether the restraints are applied in a stacked or parallel position:

Stacked Position: wrists are pinned close to the torso; arms cannot move; muscles cramp quickly; circulation becomes restricted.

Parallel Position: wrists are forced outward at an unnatural angle; rigid pressure bruises the skin; blood flow is restricted; extended wear causes swelling, numbness, and pain.

Some modern covers have “angled” designs to reduce strain, but these are not commonly used by the BOP or private transport companies.

Why It Still Exists

Two reasons:

1. Keyway protection

Covers do prevent key manipulation, though escape attempts using seized keys are extremely rare.

2. Institutional culture

Once a tool is accepted as “policy,” it survives long after its original purpose becomes outdated. Blackboxes became standard equipment, and today they’re applied even when there is no legitimate security justification.

The Bottom Line

Being “blackboxed” is not about safety. It’s not about risk. And it certainly isn’t about humane transport. It’s a 50-year-old device designed for brief, high-risk restraints that the BOP and private companies now use as a blanket measure, including on people who pose no threat at all.

Its effects are predictable:

• Pain
• Circulation problems
• Inability to eat or drink
• Inability to use the restroom
• Humiliation

For many inmates, including myself, it is simply punishment disguised as procedure. There is no valid justification for using blackboxes on compliant, low-risk inmates or during long transports. The manufacturer acknowledges this. Officers acknowledge this. Inmates live it.