Why did Maricopa County inmates wear pink underwear?
Former Sheriff Paul Penzone explains the unusual story behind the policy: the pink dye was meant to make jail-issued underwear easier to identify and recover when inmates were released.
But the tactic became a headline-grabbing gimmick—and, Penzone says, it didn’t change anyone’s behavior.
He shares why he replaced the pink underwear with a less costly alternative, in this candid conversation about the controversy, the legacy of Joe Arpaio, and life inside the sheriff’s office.
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