Raudoituksen

Raudoitus refers to the act or state of restraining a person by iron restraints, such as shackles or manacles. The term is used in Finnish to describe the use of iron restraints to immobilize or detain someone, typically in penal or custodial contexts. It derives from the verb raudoittaa, meaning to shackle with iron, which in turn comes from rauda, iron.

Historically, raudoitus was part of prison practice, prisoner transport, and certain forms of punishment. It could be used to prevent escape, control movement, or ensure security during transit or confinement. In some periods and settings, restraints were also applied in medical or custodial care to manage dangerous or unruly individuals. The specifics of how and when raudoitus was employed varied by era, jurisdiction, and institutional rules.

In modern practice, the use of physical restraints is tightly regulated and often controversial. Legal frameworks and professional guidelines emphasize proportionality, necessity, the shortest possible duration, and ongoing monitoring to safeguard human rights and safety. In Finland and many other jurisdictions, raudoitus as a general, open-ended practice has largely given way to more regulated forms of detention and control, with contemporary terminology focusing on detention, custody, or specific medical/behavioral restraint practices under clear authority and oversight.

The concept is primarily of historical and scholarly interest in current contexts, though the term remains part of discussions about the evolution of prisoner treatment, law enforcement practices, and patient care.