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Arkansas officials block inmate uniform proposal

The Baxter County Quorum Court has killed a proposal to replace inmates' black-and-white striped jail uniforms with green scrubs.
Credit: Josh Dooley/The Baxter Bulletin
Baxter County jail inmates Bryan Von Alt (left) and Michael Fredrick Strange (right) talk as they get some exercise Monday. The uniforms prisoners wear at the jail have become an issue after Baxter County Quorum Court member Gary Tennison argued the uniforms are humiliating for inmates and are not conducive to rehabilitating prisoners.

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. (AP) - The Baxter County Quorum Court has killed a proposal to replace inmates' black-and-white striped jail uniforms with green scrubs.

The Baxter Bulletin reports the court voted down the proposal 10-1 Tuesday night. The only vote in favor came from the proposal's architect, Gary Tennison. He called the uniforms dehumanizing.

Tennison says inmates are humiliated by the uniforms, which has a negative impact on their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

Sheriff John Montgomery previously called the uniforms a public safety issue. He says he doesn't want inmates in outfits that resemble civilian clothing in case they escape.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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