Does it make us any safer when prisons appear like this all the time? The only time shackling a defendant is ever needed is when they are proven to be a danger to themselves or others. Other times it is a pathetic waste. It could taint a jury or judge to assume the worst of a person brought to the court this way.
Are not officers assaigned to provide court secuity well situated to deal with an out-of-control person, no matter who it is? Pray tell me how can a boy that young ever pose a danger to a grown up unless they have a black belt in a martial art?
Do not tell me it is the law because a court judge can and shall order that all restraints be removed and regular clothes be required for the accused prior to the grand entrance of the accused in the courtroom. Tell me if that can be so ordered? The defense counsellor must make this motion and see to it that the judge makes this decision for or against in writing. In writing! If it is denied, then the defense counsellor must appeal this and any other prejurical ruling before he or she allows the defendant into the courtroom in any disadvantage compared to the advantages of the prosecution counsel.
There is no advantage lost for the prosecution counsel if the shackles are dropped, apart from the gag reflex of seeing a defendant in restraints. There is though an advantage for the prosecution do shackle and that is a bad initial reputation to a jury and/or a judge. This is hoped in the shackles to start a cascading effect that no matter how hard the defense counsel does their case the prosecution has that edge of guilt, which can teeter a jury in a quicker adverse verdict and a conviction.
This is why shackling of defendants in court must be outlawed on all levels and all cases except if the defendant cannot in their last bit of sanity keep their hand and feet to themselves. The unstable defendant would be that only exception. Otherwise, before they come to court, whether for arrainment, bond hearing, any preliminary hearing and even the trial itself, the defendant's shackles and cuff come off prior to entry. If prosecutors and some judges loudly object, they should think of another line of legal work (or profession) that would guarentee their safety and their sanity. (I hear the probate court is a relatively safe place. What danger does the reading and writing of last wills and testiments, settling unwilled estates of dead people, etc. need in shackles or cuffs other than cosplay?)
