Galveston County Jail’s "Safety Pink" Jumpsuits: A Controversial Move to Reduce Recidivism?
Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen holds up one of Galveston County Jail’s new "safety pink" jumpsuits.
All Galveston County Jail inmates will soon be forced to wear pink jumpsuits. The idea is to discourage recidivism, but a criminal justice expert said the decision is unlikely to result in the desired effect.
The Plan
In a social media post this week titled "Galveston County Sheriff’s Office Goes Pink," the sheriff’s office south of Houston announced it would be gradually replacing the county jail’s green uniforms with new "safety pink" jumpsuits. According to the post, the new uniforms will discourage recidivism, enhance visibility for corrections officers, and create a "calming atmosphere, as the color pink is believed to help alleviate feelings of anger."
Expert’s Concerns
Krista Gehring, a professor of criminal justice at the University of Houston-Downtown who studies correctional rehabilitation, said there is no evidence that such tactics reduce recidivism, which is the tendency for convicted criminals to reoffend.
"I know what you have to target in individuals in order to reduce the likelihood of recidivism, and clothing is not one of them," Gehring said. "This is a tactic that is meant to shame these individuals."
Value-Laden Implications
Gehring raised concerns about the value-laden implications of the new uniforms, particularly for male inmates. "When men wear pink, we have something to say about it, and it’s something that is often viewed as negative," she said. "Pink in our society is determined to be a female, a woman’s color, right? … Because the fact of the matter is, they’re not turning around and making the female inmates wear blue jumpsuits."
A Better Approach
Gehring suggested that the county would have a greater impact if it dedicated funding to proven recidivism reduction efforts, such as substance-abuse programming, educational programming, or vocational training.
"Spend money on substance-abuse programming or educational programming or vocational things or teaching them skills," she said. "There’s a huge literature base that talks about effective programming and the principles of effective intervention, and none of it has to do with the color of somebody’s clothes."
The Big Four and Central Eight Factors
Gehring emphasized that there are more effective ways to reduce recidivism, citing the "Big Four" and "Central Eight" factors, which include a person’s criminal history, antisocial tendencies, upbringing, and family life.
"There’s a wide base that talks about criminogenic needs," Gehring said. "They talk about the Big Four and the Central Eight. … and nothing in here says pink uniforms."
Conclusion
The introduction of pink jumpsuits in Galveston County Jail is a controversial move that may not be effective in reducing recidivism. Experts like Gehring suggest that more effective strategies, such as substance-abuse programming and educational programming, could have a greater impact.
FAQs
Q: Why is Galveston County Jail introducing pink jumpsuits for inmates?
A: The jail claims that the "safety pink" jumpsuits will discourage recidivism, enhance visibility for corrections officers, and create a "calming atmosphere."
Q: Is there evidence that pink jumpsuits will be effective in reducing recidivism?
A: No, according to Krista Gehring, a professor of criminal justice at the University of Houston-Downtown, there is no evidence to support this claim.
Q: What are some more effective ways to reduce recidivism?
A: Gehring suggests that funding substance-abuse programming, educational programming, or vocational training could be more effective in reducing recidivism.
Q: Why are the pink jumpsuits a problem for male inmates?
A: Gehring notes that the introduction of pink jumpsuits may be seen as degrading or stigmatizing for male inmates, who may feel that the color is not suitable for them.
