Inmates at Orange County Women’s Jail Call Their New Uniforms ‘Yucky’

Being in jail is bad enough, but for some inmates at the Orange County Women’s Jail, confinement isn’t only a cell but a new thing called a jumpsuit.

To save money, the county recently switched the inmates’ old uniform of elasticized pants, surgeon-style shirt and tennis shoes to a one-piece navy blue jumpsuit and black cloth shoes. But the change has left several inmates feeling a bit restricted.

“They’re yucky, ugly, they don’t fit right and they’re unproportioned,” Lenora Larson said. “They’re tight around the torso and baggy at the legs.”

The short-sleeved jumpsuits snap up the front and range in size from extra small to extra large. The waist is elasticized in back to expand to the wearer. The women are required to wear a T-shirt under the jumpsuit because the snaps sometimes pop open when they stretch their arms. “Orange County Women’s Jail” is printed on the back and “OCW Jail” on the front.

Advantages Cited

Sheriff’s Department spokesman Lt. Richard J. Olson said the new jumpsuits and slip-on shoes are expected to last longer, be easier to inventory and save the county about $10 per set.

In Los Angeles County, both the Sybil Brand Institute for women and the Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail did away with their one-piece jumpsuits about two years ago because they were “ill-fitting and uncomfortable for both the men and women,” said Joe Surgent, operations lieutenant. The women at Sybil Brand now have their choice of a two-piece pantsuit or a cotton one-piece pullover smock dress, both of which are made at the jail.

But another inmate at Orange County women’s jail, Melissa Contreras, 19, said she likes the new uniform. “I like the one-piece style,” she said. “I think it’s comfortable. It fits me OK.”

Several other inmates disagree.

“They’re terrible,” Yolanda Garcia said. “Every time I use the bathroom the back part falls in the toilet. I have to make sure I unsnap it just right and catch it or else it’s on the floor or in the toilet.”

A 32-year-old inmate said she has “a lower back injury and (the jumpsuits) pull at my back and my shoulders when I try to sit down or get in and out of them.” The woman, serving time for prostitution, asked to remain anonymous.

For several of the inmates the generic sizes are not comparable to their female sizes.

“With the pants and shirts we used to have sizes 6, 8, 10 or 12,” Larson said. “But now it’s just small, medium or large. And if you don’t want it tight or snug, you have to go to a larger size and then the crotch hangs down to your knees and scratches the insides of your legs.”

Rebecca Jurado, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said she received more complaints about the new shoes--which resemble Chinese slippers--than the uniform. The women “showed the shoes to me and they looked like they couldn’t stand up to much,” Jurado said. “They’re basically very flimsy, very thin-soled and they wear out easily.”

Jurado said the inmates’ main concern is that the shoes have no arch support and offer less protection or durability than the tennis shoes.

“About six of us girls used to walk a few miles up and down the tank (cell hallways) when we had the tennis shoes,” said the 32-year-old inmate, “but we stopped now because these shoes are slippery and have no support; after a while your feet and legs start hurting. We need another change.”

Inmate Larson, 26, said she returned to the old uniforms after one day because she is part of the working staff at the jail. The workers are allowed to wear the old uniforms if they want, Olson said.

“I don’t know the exact reason why they’re wearing the old uniforms instead of the jumpsuits,” Olson said. “But that’s what the workers are wearing.”

Larson, who is seven months pregnant, said other inmates--pregnant and not--have complained about the new outfits.

‘Like to Look Good’

“Even though you’re in jail, girls still like to look good. They still have to go to court (and) be seen by people. A lot of girls were missing meals in the beginning because of the way they looked” in the uniforms, she said. “The people who made them didn’t think about the way they’d fit women.”

Olson disagreed. “The uniforms are generic, but they were made to fit women,” he said.

“We weren’t aware of any complaints by the inmates about the uniforms,” Olson added. “Some inmates have even told the controllers that they like the jumpsuits better than what we’ve had before.”

Assistant Sheriff John (Rocky) Hewitt said the county will give the new uniforms a chance before considering another switch.

“While we feel the uniform is a comfortable, long-wearing, cost-effective garment and the shoes are durable and long-lasting, we’re continuing to look at them; if it proves not to be what we thought it would be, we’ll go back to the other one,” Hewitt said.