Prisoners in Pink: Sweet Idea or Stinks?
An Ohio sheriff thinks the color pink will help calm inmates.
We give at Crime Rant give him the raspberry, which is more red than pink. But whatever.
Here’s a snip from today’s AP:
Jail administrator Dee Sandy thought the sheriff was joking when he mentioned painting cellblocks pink. He wasn’t.
Inmates at the Miami County Jail are putting color on the jail’s once cream-colored walls after Sheriff Charles Cox entered the academic debate over the color pink’s calming abilities.
After Sandy realized Cox was serious, she said she picked purple for the jail bars, which had been blue.
The jail, about 20 miles north of Dayton, houses up to 111 inmates, both men and women.
Researchers have documented the ability of certain colors to evoke emotional and physical responses, and many jails around the nation have been painted pink as a pacifying measure.
County jails in Arizona, Tennessee and Texas have had similar makeovers, but last year,
the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department abandoned pink for institutional gray. Jail officials there said the pink hue had no discernible effect on prisoners but annoyed the jail staff.
The last time we remember pink being used in jail decor was on the prisoner’s attire in Phoenix. Remember when they paraded 2,000 prisoners in pink boxers (poxers?) and pink flip-flops?
That time, like this time, made us reach for Pepto-bismol, which just happens to be pink.
December 18th, 2007 at 1:01 am
I always associate pink with Pepto Bismol and nausea. Kind of triggers a gag reflex. Wonder what happens in the drunk tank?
December 18th, 2007 at 1:25 am
This reminds me of Thailands new method of punishing Bad Cops!
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292245,00.html
December 18th, 2007 at 2:32 am
If I remember studies done on color, this is an extremely bad idea because pink has been linked to violence.
Pax,
MLO
December 18th, 2007 at 5:40 am
Pink? That color makes me want to kick someone’s butt. UGH.
December 18th, 2007 at 6:19 am
And the blue teddy bears are because?
December 18th, 2007 at 6:36 am
We’ve all heard the stories about pink being “calming”. However…
Let’s get down to some “real life” and perhaps some “fake real life” examples:
1. The “holding pens” in Miami, the thin long cinder block ones with high ceilings and giant, heavy, vault-like metal doors, the ones that are used to “book” the crooks and PCP heads before being sent off to their next stop to the “big cage”, are painted pink. And, when the drunks and the meth heads and crack monkeys and the muggers are tossed in there, they still pee in the corners of the big cell, yell at the “bookers” and bang on the door while they look out that tiny bullet prof window. So, pink? Nah.
Don’t drunks see “pink elephants? Ever see a drunken brawl or bar fight? Shit, that alone should tell you that the PINK elephants have no calming effects. Sheesh!
Over the long run, does the pink within the prisons actually calm them? I can’t answer that, but, maybe them boys come out feelin’ real purty after their stretch and when they leak back into society, hell, they just wanna go shopping.
December 18th, 2007 at 7:03 am
I like pink and I even like the taste of pepto bismol. Weird but it is true. As for the colors, I remember reading about some of the color research many years ago. If I recall correctly, light green was also calming. That jail cell looks more like a daycare. What’s up with the teddy bears? Do the inmates go nite-nite and suck their thumbs?
I think the pink boxers are cute.
December 18th, 2007 at 8:11 am
Pink happens to be my favorite color so I think the cells and pink boxers are pretty. Lol And my mother always had a fresh bottle of Pepto Bismol in the fridge for the family’s upset tummies when I grew up. It didn’t bother me nearly as much as Alka Seltzer. Yuck.
I am wondering what’s up with the teddy bears, too. Maybe that’s for the pregnant inmate cells…?
December 18th, 2007 at 9:44 am
I think the teddy bears are a joke, I dont think the jail will actually have teddy bears.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Hey, Pink- That’s Hot. Bwahahaha….
December 18th, 2007 at 10:16 am
I know Pepto Bismol is supposed to make you better…. but I gag at even the smell…
Who is that famous hard-ass warden… he’s on TV periodically,…. He doesall kinds of unorthodox things to his prisoners, and swears by all of his methods. Were those his troops running in the pink??
Anyway, I really don’t know about the treatment of prisoners. Sometimes when I hear that their cells are like dorm rooms with TV, radio, books, pictures, writing materials, 3 meals a day…. I think it’s too good for them.
I would think making men wear pink would be more of a humiliation thing, which could trigger some unwanted behaviors.
Have to give this one more thought.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:18 am
I happen to like the taste of pepto bismol too -on the other hand, I loathe the color pink.
Here in AZ it isn’t necessarily done for the soothing factor – it’s more like the Taiwanese bad cop thing – punishment by humiliation. I read recently that Sheriff Joe is going to even have his infamous chain gangs in pink soon O.O
The boxer shorts they make inmates wear have become so popular you can actually buy them in stores here – the proceeds going to charity.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:41 am
I liked how he made Mike Tyson wear the pink socks and slippers, with the matching handcuffs
December 18th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Did they get a deal on lead-base paint from China? Probably not. They used all that paint on toys for children. Gotta keep those inmates safe.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Melissa, pink socks and slippers with matching handcuffs? (No, Nona – don’t go there…)
December 18th, 2007 at 11:31 am
LOL about the paint, Nona!
I’m not in favor of punishment by humiliation. I think punishment by working your butt off is better.
December 18th, 2007 at 12:21 pm
“I think the teddy bears are a joke, I dont think the jail will actually have teddy bears.”
I certainly hope so, the thought of putting Child predators in those cells that looks like a nursery, makes me wanna puke.
December 18th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
I’m not sure about AZ, but yes, there are jails with the teddy bears stuck to the walls like that.
Kimy: Why would that make you puke? Child predators are not generally into infants so I don’t think nursery bears and pink walls are going to turn them on. Seems to me it’s almost a fitting punishment for them – more of a torment than anything.
December 18th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Well, and also, there are other crimes than child predators. People will be held in that jail for a variety of offenses.
December 18th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
Where do they have jails with teddy bears stuck to the walls?
December 18th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
“Child predators are not generally into infants so I don’t think nursery bears and pink walls are going to turn them on”
OutofTX – While that might be true… It is still a sickening thought, whether infants OR children, thats just my opinion.
December 18th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Pink happens to be one of my favorite colors. This has me laughing my ass off.
December 18th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
OutofTX is right, seems there is one.
BUFFALO, Mo. (AP) — Prisoners returning to a southwest Missouri county jail damaged in a failed breakout will find a new color scheme — pink with blue teddy bear accents.
The Dallas County Detention Center is being repainted a soft shade of pink in an effort to better manage sometimes volatile detainees. Dallas County Sheriff Mike Rackley said he decided to update the look as part of extensive repairs necessary after inmates set a fire and vandalized the interior in an escape attempt.
“Basically, if they are going to act like children and commit a childish act, then we’ll make a childish atmosphere,” he said. “And its a calming thing; Teddy bears are soothing. So we made it like a day care, and that’s kind of like what it is, a day care for adults who can’t control their behavior in public.”
For more on the article….
http://www.courttv.com/people/2006/1109/pinkjail_ap.html
December 18th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Holy crap, that really is funny. I thought for sure it was a joke.
December 18th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
I think it might work. Neighborhoods that feel cold, dark, run down and deserted seem to stimulate crime and violence, beating someone up in an environment with pink walls and teddy bears might feel not quite right. Wouldn’t make them feel quite as cool or tough. Still, I’d like to see some research.
December 18th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Next thing you know, they’ll be contracting Martha Stewrt to come in as a design consultant . . .
Personally, I think they should make the cells Taser colored . . . that oughta keep them calm.
December 18th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Gee Willakers . . My A key on my keyboard just decided not to work when my pinky (oh, that color must be everywhere . . . ) mashed on it. The woman’s name is Martha StewArt, not Stewrt, although that is often how it is pronounced around here, lol
December 18th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
I agree with another poster if I had to look at that I would be ready for a fight. I thought Yellow made folks happy Not pink.
December 18th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Even our prisons are looking wussy. Too bad they don’t require inmates to work and do something constructive and productive with their time rather than parading them around in pink undies and flip-flops. Why is it unconstitutional to make a prisoner work, but it is OK to humiliate them?
December 18th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Rose, I am here with you. They should work,
The humilation factor is a second coming. Seriously. What kind of man would think that his surroundings are intimidating.
Granted we are dealing with the weak minded.
December 19th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Melissa, what you said just reminded me of something. I work next door to some kind of prison work unit. There are a lot of other state buildings in the area, and these prisoners do the lawn work in the summer. It amazes me how they try to get the attention of women walking by. There they are in their jail clothes with a guard watching over them, and they don’t appear to be embarrassed or anything. I mean… really! If I were in jail clothes doing lawn work I would probably keep my face down with my hair covering it as much as possible instead of trying to draw attention to myself.
So yeah, there has to be something wrong with them.
December 19th, 2007 at 11:30 am
I agree that colors can often set a mood to calm people. However, I would think that PINK in a jail/prison would cause more problems than not. IDK…maybe it’s a great idea. Sounds like a lighter color for sure was in order, but could they not have chosen a more neutral color? Going from the dark color to a lighter one would keep their cells from feeling so small. Opens them up. I guess we’ll see how this goes.
December 20th, 2007 at 9:14 am
LMAO at “wussie prisons!”
December 21st, 2007 at 1:33 pm
reminds me of the brouhaha over the university of iowa’s pink locker rooms…
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20051002/ai_n15715260
peace
January 2nd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
so, i spent a night in jail once… one night. One time. I’ll never do it again. The walls were this icky puke yellow color, there were all of these creepy guys hitting on me and there was a crazy midget lady that tried to kick my ass… Until they threw her in the solitary cell for crazy people. THe point is, I don’t think that it really matters what colour the walls are; people are going to act like idiots. They acted like idiots to get themselves thrown into the jail in the first place, and they are probably still in the same state that they were in (or just sobering up from it!
What you need is to find effective deputies who can make these people realize that the path that they were on is not a good one. Sometimes, that is all it takes to turn things around. Deputies don’t have to be licensed therapists… just effective communicators.
April 7th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
Pink – I Don’t Believe You – #3 Funhouse
Pink has stated that this disc is her most vulnerable to date. Much of the disc’s subject matter alludes to the fact that Pink recently divorced her husband Carey Hart.