In the wake of Wednesday’s escape by murder suspect Teddy Munet, Public Safety Director Ted Sakai is ordering that all medium and maximum security inmates be required to wear handcuffs, waist chains and leg irons when being transferred to courtrooms for hearings.

The order became “effective immediately” as of last night, said Toni Schwartz, DPS public information officer. The order is being made “in accordance with existing policy.”

Other procedural changes following Munet’s escape are being studied, Schwartz said.

Munet escaped from corrections officers shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday as they were taking him out of a van at Circuit Court, where he was scheduled to appear for a hearing.

He was recaptured about eight blocks away in front of an condominium complex on Waimanu Street about 7:20 p.m.

Sakai, at a press conference Wednesday afternoon, said Munet was not wearing leg shackles and should have been.

Public Safety’s internal affairs office is conducting an investigation into the matter, as is routine when there is an escape, Schwartz said today.