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downtownhound In reply to tweedlebug123 [2011-06-24 16:09:27 +0000 UTC]

Well, it has to do with prison and jail history. Black and white stripes were common throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century and up until the first few decades of the twentieth. The black stripes were meant to simulate cell bars. They were eventually abolished when a new attitude in corrections emphasized rehabilitation rather than punishment, and the stripes were deemed too humiliating for inmates to wear.

Ever since the 90's though, a time that saw rapid prison construction and expansion in America, a number of American county jails have reverted back to their use, most famously by Sherrif Joe Arpaio of Maricpa County, Arizona. Many other county jails have since followed suit, ditching the classic orange jumpsuit with the more traditional stripes. The stripes have yet to make any serious inroads in state and federal prisons though, just county jails. It tends to earn local sherrifs points with the public for appearing tough on crime.

Officials often say the reason for the change back to stripes is that it makes the inmates more identifiable and less likely to be confused with maintenence workers and so forth. Others say it's simply meant to humiliate them more. You be the judge.

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tweedlebug123 In reply to downtownhound [2011-06-24 17:06:13 +0000 UTC]

Wow, neat!

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Queen-of-Geeks In reply to tweedlebug123 [2011-04-09 00:21:54 +0000 UTC]

No, but its probably because different countries have different uniforms.

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