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| Color-Coding Brings New Kind of Uniformity to Jail Attire |
| By Wapakoneta Daily News/Associated Press |
| Published: 12/16/2002 |
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While many Ohio sheriffs are bringing back the black-and-white striped jail uniforms to identify inmates, Auglaize County jail officials have adopted a color-coded uniform system. Auglaize County Jail Administrator Joe Lynch adopted the system with which he was familiar while working for the state prior to his appointment here. 'I never gave it much thought if the black-and-white uniforms were degrading,' said Lynch, who said he knew he was going to adopt a similar system to that used at the Correctional Center of Northwest Ohio. 'What we do here is that color-coded system of security levels with uniforms. It is similar to the facility that I used to work at up at Stryker, and we just went with the objective jail classification.' The Auglaize County jail uniform system is divided into six classifications by security level with six distinct colors. The colors pertain to both male and female jail inmates. Maximum security prisoners are given red uniforms, with medium security inmates given yellow pants and shirts and minimum security inmates outfitted in blue. Inmate workers at the jail are issued white uniforms, while outdoor workers are issued neon green. Two security classes are given green uniforms, while inmates under the age of 21 must wear orange pants and white shirts. Lynch said 76 males and nine females were booked into the facility during the month of November. The jail has three sets of uniforms for the inmates - one that they wear, a second set that is being washed and the third set that is used as a back-up and rotated in with the other two uniforms. Corrections Officer Mark Fuerstenau said one inmate is currently working at the Auglaize County Courthouse and two inmates are working at the Recycling Center in St. Marys - and wearing the neon green uniform. Garrison said the jail wanted the neon green because of its high visibility. While Auglaize County is one of the few counties to utilize a color-coded scheme, nearly 25 Ohio sheriff offices are expected to switch to or continue to use the black-and-white striped uniforms, including Mercer County. The Associated Press reported that Hamilton County officials have already begun switching nearly 1,900 inmates into two-piece suits with wide horizontal stripes. Kara Gotsch, public policy coordinator for the American Civil Liberties Union's National Prison Project, said sheriffs are humiliating inmates with the uniforms 'because it's a good way to look like you are being tough on crime.' |
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