14 DAY TRIAL // The folks behind “Orange Is the New Black” might have fantasized about making television history when they launched the series, but they probably did not expect to also prompt a drastic change in the design of the uniforms people who are actually in jail must wear.
However, they and their show did just that, and the news is now spreading like wildfire across the online community. Thus, media reports say, due to the success of “Orange Is the New Black,” folks imprisoned in Michigan, US, will soon get brand new uniforms.
Until the release of the series and its rise to fame, inmates at this Michigan jail got to strut around in orange jumpsuits. However, they are now expected to stop wearing these uniforms and instead embrace more traditional black, white and stripy clothes.
As detailed by New York Daily News, the decision to change these prisoners' outfit is the brainchild of Saginaw County Sheriff William Federspiel, who is quite upset about the fact that, thanks to “Orange Is the New Black,” prison uniforms have become surprisingly fashionable in this part of the US.
“I see a lot of people wearing all orange, and they think it's cool. And some people even put ‘Property of the Saginaw County Jail’ on the back of it,” the Sheriff reportedly told the press in an interview. “I've seen that. It's like, ‘What are you doing? Really?’” he added.
According to Sheriff William Federspiel, the problem with having civilians walk around wearing clothes inmates alone are expected to have in their wardrobe is that police officers are bound to have trouble telling prisoners and regular folks apart.
Specifically, what worries the Sheriff is the fact that, whenever inmates go on trips, some of them might be mistaken for civilians and allowed to walk free. Needless to say, this would make law enforcement in Saginaw County, Michigan, a wee more difficult.
The new uniforms that William Federspiel expects the inmates under his watchful eye will soon be wearing around town and in prison will cost nearly $12 (approximately €9) each. Despite being so cheap, the Sheriff maintains that inmates will be able to wear them for about two or three years.
In case anyone was wondering, word has it that prisoners in Saginaw County, Michigan are not exactly thrilled about the fact that the Sheriff wants to change their entire wardrobe. The bad news is that, apparently, William Federspiel could not care less. As he put it, “Too bad. Don't come to jail.”