Well, for starters you will only have the ball and chain for a few days, as long as you don't make any trouble. It's an insurance policy for the Warden to determine whether prisoners of the more...violent nature will be a problem or not.
I suggest you try to not draw attention to yourself for your first couple of days, at least until you get released, though I don't recommend looking for trouble either. It's unknown exactly how powerful Acumen is.
[A moments pause.]
Also, if you hadn't discovered it yet, the kitchen in the shelter provides blood. It's unwise to feed off others.