When Alex is brought into the Sheriff's office by one of Jody's deputies she is not restrained, she even uses her hands to try and break away from the deputy. Police officers are required to place all persons under arrest in hand cuffs, this is for not only the officer's safety, it is also for the prisoner's safety, it reduces the chance that the prisoner can run away or grab a weapon and harm the officer, or force the officer to use deadly force to defend themselves.