GROVETOWN, Ga. (AP) — Chief Gary Jones has a clear philosophy when it comes to jailed inmates.

"It's our job to make sure they don't want to come back," said Jones, director of Grovetown's Public Safety Department.

Jones took an uncommon approach to his goal this week when a shipment of hot-pink inmate uniforms arrived at the Grovetown department.

Jones believes Grovetown is the first police department in Georgia to adopt the idea of its inmates wearing pink.

"I took the idea from the police department in Maricopa County, Arizona," Jones said.

"First of all, we want to demonstrate that we run the jail, not the inmates. Secondly, we hope this helps make sure no one reoffends."

In Maricopa County, Sheriff Joe Arpaio had inmates wear pink underwear, and later introduced the idea of using pink handcuffs.

Arpaio's "pink campaign" gained national coverage, and he eventually turned the idea into a fundraiser, as he sold customized pink boxers with the Maricopa County Sheriff's logo.

As for Grovetown, Jones hopes the inmates will be seen in their pink uniforms while collecting litter on public roads.

"We want our inmates to be seen picking up trash in highly visible uniforms," Jones said.

"We want people to drive by and say, 'We never want to be in that position.' "

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Information from: The Augusta Chronicle , http://www.augustachronicle.com