The practical reasons for the use of regulation orange outfits in the U.S. prison system include the fact that bright colors make it easier for inmates to be spotted at a distance, meaning that they are more likely to be seen by officers in the case of their escaping from prison. Indeed, prisoners typically only wear orange when the risk of escape is high, such as during a court appearance or when they are being transported between prison wings or institutions. The rest of the time, prisoners typically wear darker work clothes.
However, there has been a notable pushback against orange jumpsuits and scrubs in U.S. prisons in the 21st century. As The New York Times reported in 2000, single-block-color jumpsuits — as opposed to striped uniforms — have sometimes led to escaped prisoners being mistaken for utility, sanitation, or construction workers, making it far less likely that they’ll be reported and apprehended. On another note, the association of orange jumpsuits has changed over time. Their use by the U.S. to dress imprisoned terror suspects at the notorious Guantanamo Bay detention center prompted the Islamic militant group ISIS to dress their own prisoners, who are often executed, in similar outfits in an attempt to draw equivalency between both sides.
