Oklahoma inmates' uniforms make them easy to spot

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - Bright orange jail uniforms just weren't enough to make inmates stand out in one Oklahoma county.

Some may say the hot-pink shirts and yellow-and-white striped pants now worn by Cleveland County, Okla., inmates make them look more like clowns than criminals. But sheriff's officials say the uniforms are meant to make it easy to find inmates who escape.

Undersheriff Rhett Burnett says the old orange uniforms were too similar to scrubs medical workers wear. He noted that orange is one of Norman High School's colors, making it popular in the area.

The county switched to the new uniforms 16 months ago.

Burnett told The Oklahoman the sheriff just "wanted something identifiable that couldn't be duplicated."

___

Link to original story, including photo of uniforms: The Oklahoman

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.