Green should not be new black for inmates of Baxter County jail
It’s hard to imagine jailhouse fashion causing such a stir.
By now, most folks in the Twin Lakes Area should be aware of Baxter County Quorum Court member Gary Tennison’s proposal for the sheriff’s office to do away with those so unstylish black-and-white striped jail uniforms and those awful flip-flops. Really, jail stripes are so 1930ish.
Instead, the lame-duck Tennison would prefer the county inmates be decked out in much more fashionable green scrubs and deck shoes. He says this would boost the self-esteem of the assorted felons and miscreants being housed by the county, and might even reduce recidivism among them. It even could serve as a deterrent to others.
Sheriff John “Innkeeper” Montgomery, as might be expected, dislikes Tennison’s idea. The cost of supplying a whole new line of jail uniforms and footwear is only one of the reasons the high sheriff opposes the proposed ordinance, slated to go before the Baxter County Quorum Court Aug. 5. In fiscally tight times, such an expenditure could be seen as almost frivolous. Of course, even during fat financial times some might consider such a changeover frivolous, too.
Montgomery contends there’s a safety issue involved as well, and there he does make an excellent point. If you think about it, there’s a reason prisoners don’t wear street clothes while in jail, or are decked out in duds that could allow them to blend in with the general public. Should one of the jail’s chargees decide he’s tired of the county’s hospitality and decide leave, those good ol’ black-and-white stripes make him stand out even in a crowd. Most folks are familiar enough with the jail stripes that no one would mistake an escapee for a rugby player.
The same goes for those orange scrubs or jumpsuits used in come counties — such as Izard County, where inmates also are outfitted with orange Crocs — and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s pink uniforms for his jail inmates. Any of those individuals take off, they’re going to be noticeable to the public at large and everyone searching for them. The Arkansas Department of Correction dresses its inmates in all white uniforms so they’ll stand out, and they’re not going to be mistaken for medical personnel in those outfits.
There is one problem with the orange jumpsuits, however, at least in Saginaw County, Mich., where the Netflix series Orange is the New Black has made orange jumpsuits fashionable among some folks. According to reports, the jail fashion trend has prompted the sheriff to retire the orange jumpsuits at his facility.
His choice for a replacement? According to the The Cut fashion website, “the classic black-and-white garment.”
Sheriff William Federspeil told the MLive news website he chose it “because it signifies ‘jail inmate,’ and I don’t see people out there wanting to wear black-and-white stripes.” Like Montgomery, Federspiel said the choice was in the best interest of the public and a way to not blur the boundary between the culture outside jail and the culture within jail.
And like our sheriff, the Michigan lawman said the reason for his selection of jail uniforms is another aspect in providing better security for deputies and makes inmates easier to spot.
As is the case here, some of Saginaw County’s prisoners aren’t too hip on the black-and-white stripes. Federspiel’s response: “Too bad. Don’t come to jail.”
Actually, that’s pretty good advice and ranks up there with Montgomery’s favorite response to questions about the jail: “This is not the Holiday Inn.” Someone should make a carving or plaque of that to hang over the entry to the jail. Or a bumper sticker.
No one wants to dehumanize jail inmates, which Tennison claims the current uniforms do. After all, except for those waiting for a prison bed or serving time after a district court conviction, the inmates still are considered innocent until proven guilty. But most people who find themselves on the other side of the bars knows what to expect fashion-wise. At the same time, no one wants inmates on a work detail or otherwise outside the jail to be able to slip off and just blend in with everyone else. His proposed jail uniform presents too many potential problems for both the sheriff’s office and the public. Green should not be the new black for inmates of the Baxter County jail.
Besides, there are more than enough other issues for the county to deal with than the attire of residents of the Crossbar Hotel.
By now, most folks in the Twin Lakes Area should be aware of Baxter County Quorum Court member Gary Tennison’s proposal for the sheriff’s office to do away with those so unstylish black-and-white striped jail uniforms and those awful flip-flops. Really, jail stripes are so 1930ish.
Instead, the lame-duck Tennison would prefer the county inmates be decked out in much more fashionable green scrubs and deck shoes. He says this would boost the self-esteem of the assorted felons and miscreants being housed by the county, and might even reduce recidivism among them. It even could serve as a deterrent to others.
Sheriff John “Innkeeper” Montgomery, as might be expected, dislikes Tennison’s idea. The cost of supplying a whole new line of jail uniforms and footwear is only one of the reasons the high sheriff opposes the proposed ordinance, slated to go before the Baxter County Quorum Court Aug. 5. In fiscally tight times, such an expenditure could be seen as almost frivolous. Of course, even during fat financial times some might consider such a changeover frivolous, too.
Montgomery contends there’s a safety issue involved as well, and there he does make an excellent point. If you think about it, there’s a reason prisoners don’t wear street clothes while in jail, or are decked out in duds that could allow them to blend in with the general public. Should one of the jail’s chargees decide he’s tired of the county’s hospitality and decide leave, those good ol’ black-and-white stripes make him stand out even in a crowd. Most folks are familiar enough with the jail stripes that no one would mistake an escapee for a rugby player.
The same goes for those orange scrubs or jumpsuits used in come counties — such as Izard County, where inmates also are outfitted with orange Crocs — and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s pink uniforms for his jail inmates. Any of those individuals take off, they’re going to be noticeable to the public at large and everyone searching for them. The Arkansas Department of Correction dresses its inmates in all white uniforms so they’ll stand out, and they’re not going to be mistaken for medical personnel in those outfits.
There is one problem with the orange jumpsuits, however, at least in Saginaw County, Mich., where the Netflix series Orange is the New Black has made orange jumpsuits fashionable among some folks. According to reports, the jail fashion trend has prompted the sheriff to retire the orange jumpsuits at his facility.
His choice for a replacement? According to the The Cut fashion website, “the classic black-and-white garment.”
Sheriff William Federspeil told the MLive news website he chose it “because it signifies ‘jail inmate,’ and I don’t see people out there wanting to wear black-and-white stripes.” Like Montgomery, Federspiel said the choice was in the best interest of the public and a way to not blur the boundary between the culture outside jail and the culture within jail.
And like our sheriff, the Michigan lawman said the reason for his selection of jail uniforms is another aspect in providing better security for deputies and makes inmates easier to spot.
As is the case here, some of Saginaw County’s prisoners aren’t too hip on the black-and-white stripes. Federspiel’s response: “Too bad. Don’t come to jail.”
Actually, that’s pretty good advice and ranks up there with Montgomery’s favorite response to questions about the jail: “This is not the Holiday Inn.” Someone should make a carving or plaque of that to hang over the entry to the jail. Or a bumper sticker.
No one wants to dehumanize jail inmates, which Tennison claims the current uniforms do. After all, except for those waiting for a prison bed or serving time after a district court conviction, the inmates still are considered innocent until proven guilty. But most people who find themselves on the other side of the bars knows what to expect fashion-wise. At the same time, no one wants inmates on a work detail or otherwise outside the jail to be able to slip off and just blend in with everyone else. His proposed jail uniform presents too many potential problems for both the sheriff’s office and the public. Green should not be the new black for inmates of the Baxter County jail.
Besides, there are more than enough other issues for the county to deal with than the attire of residents of the Crossbar Hotel.
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