Prison uniform
Wearing a prison uniform is typically done only reluctantly and is often perceived as stigmatizing, and as an invasion into the autonomy of decision.
[4][5][6] During the Nazi period of Germany, interned people in the concentration camp system were often made to wear prisoner's uniforms.
[9] In the United Kingdom, prison uniforms formerly consisted of a white jacket, trousers and pillbox hat, all stamped with the broad arrow to denote crown property.
One prisoner, Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa, left this description: “Fully fourteen pounds in weight.
It was not that alone, but the sight of the impression they left on the gutter as you looked at the footprints of those who walked before you, struck terror to your heart.
There was the felon’s brand of the ‘broad arrow’ impressed on the soil by every footstep…the nails in the soles of your boots and shoes were hammered in an arrow shape, so that whatever ground you trod you left traces that Government property had travelled over it.”[12] The broad arrow-marked uniforms of the preceding century were used until 1922,[13] with the replacement taking the form of a plain suit (jacket, waistcoat, and trousers) worn with a collared shirt and a tie; footwear consisted of woolen socks and black leather shoes.
[14] During the Second World War, German and Italian prisoners of war who were engaged in agricultural work were issued with a chocolate brown version of battledress which featured a white circular patch on the chest and back;[15][16] consideration was given to introducing battledress or similar for the domestic prison population after the war, but it was instead decided to continue with the suit uniform, albeit with the appearance being improved, protective clothing (bib-and-brace overalls) being provided for work purposes, and reissued uniforms now being dry-cleaned instead of being boiled.
Underwear, stockings, and footwear were revised in line with contemporary styling, while those who wished to wear their own corsets and brassieres could do so if these items were in a fit state.
All male prisoners must wear the uniform during the first two weeks of their sentence,[20] and are then entitled to wear some of their own clothes if they choose to after obtaining a higher enhanced reward level, for doing things such as performing their prison chores and keeping good behavior, etc.
This does not include dangerous criminals, usually those held in Category A maximum security prisons, who are assessed as having a high escape attempt risk; they are required to wear yellow and green boiler suits with the words 'HM PRISON' ('HM' standing for His/Her Majesty) printed on the back in black capital lettering on a permanent basis whilst in custody.
[23] To make escape more difficult, prison uniforms in the United States often consist of a distinctive orange jumpsuit with short sleeves or set of scrubs with a white T-shirt underneath, as it is difficult for an escaped inmate to avoid recognition and recapture in such distinctive attire.
[25] In many cases, prison uniforms are better suited to the comfort and durability required for long term inmates, and these new uniforms are used mostly in local jails for short term inmates and offenders awaiting trial or transportation to a more permanent facility.
Striped uniforms, in general, have made a significant comeback into the jail and prison system for a variety of reasons, such as mistaking jumpsuit-clad workers as inmates.
[26] False reporting of people in similar clothing has become a problem in some counties, so many have switched back to using striped uniforms (mostly orange and white) due to the unambiguous nature of these garments being associated with inmates.
