Opinion ID: 1325116
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Physical Restraints Imposed on Frye.

Text: Frye objected to being restrained by chains or handcuffs at trial, arguing that physical restraints visible to the jury would be prejudicial. The Commonwealth argued that security interests required some form of restraint. Attempting to strike a balance between these competing interests, the trial court ruled that Frye's initial appearance at counsel table could be made without any restraints, with leg restraints to be attached after the jury panel had been selected. Frye declined the court's offer to give the jury a cautionary instruction explaining that the restraints were applied as a routine security measure. While we agree that requiring a defendant to stand trial in physical restraints may create prejudice in the minds of jurors by suggesting that the defendant is dangerous or that his guilt is a foregone conclusion, we also believe that in extraordinary cases such shackling of the defendant is necessary to protect the rights of those present in the courtroom and society at large. See State v. Tolley, 290 N.C. 349, 365-67, 226 S.E.2d 353, 366-67 (1976), and authorities cited therein. In Virginia, the conduct of a trial is committed to the discretion of the trial court. Watkins, 229 Va. at 484, 331 S.E.2d at 433; Justus v. Commonwealth, 222 Va. 667, 676, 283 S.E.2d 905, 910 (1981), cert. denied, 455 U.S. 983, 102 S.Ct. 1491, 71 L.Ed.2d 693 (1982). Therefore, the question is whether the trial court abused its discretion in requiring that Frye be secured by leg restraints. A trial court may consider various factors in determining whether a defendant should be restrained, such as the seriousness of the charge, the defendant's temperament, age, and physical attributes, his criminal record, and any past escapes, escape attempts, or threatened misconduct. See Tolley, 290 N.C. at 368, 226 S.E.2d at 368. This determination need not be made upon a formal hearing, and the information upon which it is based need not be evidence formally offered and admitted at trial. Id. Given the gravity of the offense charged and the evidence of Frye's propensity for violent crime and escape, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in determining that, in the interest of security, Frye should be restrained.