Why are prisoners in the US dressed in orange robes?
From Hollywood movies, we know that in the US all prisoners are dressed in orange robes. Actually this is not true. The orange color of clothing among those serving sentences is the most common, although there are others. But why did they choose orange as the main one, and not green or blue?
In any prison in the world, with rare exceptions, prisoners are given the same clothes, unlike ordinary ones. This is done not only because it will be easier to find a fugitive in a crowd of respectable citizens. Identical robes are a way to depersonalize a person, deprive him of his individuality, make him just a number from the list. We can say that this is also a punishment, additional to imprisonment.
The bright color of the prisoners' clothes is a way to make them noticeable at any time of the day, in different weather conditions. Previously, robes were mostly striped. Today, such clothes can still be seen in the prisons of some countries. It is usually worn by prisoners with life sentences or those sentenced to death. But in the United States, more than 100 years ago, orange was introduced.
Orange is rare in nature. Therefore, when a convict escapes, it is easy to notice on the grass, in the snow, on a tree, in the water, and generally anywhere. But there are inmates in US prisons, the color of their robes stands out from the crowd. Those who have committed crimes of medium gravity are dressed in orange. Therefore, they are the most.
Those who are classified as especially dangerous or considered prone to escape are dressed in things of a pale red color. There are also pink robes. Those who categorically refuse to obey the rules of the prison serve their sentences in them. These are prisoners prone to violence, defiant behavior and inappropriate actions.
Psychologists who deal with prisoners believe that the orange color of the robe was chosen correctly. It does not depress people as much as black or dark blue. And this means that the criminal will have a better mood and his re-education will be more successful. But in third world countries, the psychological health of criminals does not bother anyone. In the prisons of Madagascar, everyone is serving time in their clothes, and some without them at all.