LIFE IN PRISON Orange Is the New Black (often abbreviated to OITNB) is an American comedy-drama series created by Jenji Kohan and first released on Netflix on July 11, 2013.The series, produced by Tilted Productions in association with Lionsgate Television, is based on Piper Kerman’s memoir, Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison (2010), about her experiences at FCI Danbury. The second season, consisting of 13 episodes, was released on June 6, 2014. The third season, consisting of 13 episodes, premiered on June 11, 2015. On April 15, 2015, the series was renewed for a fourth season, scheduled to premiere in 2016. Orange is the New Black is Netflix’s most watched series. It has received critical acclaim. The series garnered 12 Primetime Emmy Award nominations for its first season, including Outstanding Comedy Series. A new Emmy rule in 2015 forced the series to change categories from comedy to drama. It received four Emmy nominations for its second season, including Outstanding Drama Series, becoming the first series to score nominations in both categories. The series revolves around Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling), a woman in her thirties living in New York City, who is sentenced to 15 months in Litchfield Penitentiary, a minimum-security women’s federal prison (operated by the “Federal Department of Corrections”, a fictionalized version of the Federal Bureau of Prisons) in upstate New York. Piper has been convicted of transporting a suitcase full of drug money for her then girlfriend Alex Vause (Laura Prepon), an international drug smuggler. The offense had occurred 10 years prior to the start of the series, and in that time Piper had moved on to a quiet, law-abiding life among New York’s upper middle class, so her sudden and unexpected indictment seriously disrupts her relationships with her fiancé, family and friends.
In prison, Piper is reunited with Alex (who named Piper in her trial, resulting in Piper’s arrest), and they re-examine their relationship and deal with their fellow prisoners. The show often shows flashbacks of significant events from various inmates and prison guards’ pasts. These flashbacks typically explain how the inmate came to be in prison or otherwise further develop the character’s backstory. The majority of the characters featured are in prison for non-violent offenses, most of them related to narcotics, fraud and larceny, while some are in prison for organised crime, homicide and aggravated assault charges. Most are from lower- and middle-income backgrounds. The show also depicts corruption and inadequacies of the American prison system and the abuse of power by some correctional officers upon female inmates. As the series has progressed, the focus on Piper as the lead character has lessened and shifted to the ensemble and concurrent plot themes. Litchfield Penitentiary is the primary setting of Orange is the New Black. It houses both a minimum-security prison (where the events of the show take place) and a maximum-security prison. Originally (Seasons 1 and 2), it was run by the Federal Department of Corrections, but after a threatened closure (in Season 3), Caputo was able to convince MCC, a private corporation that specializes in prisons, to keep it open. It is located in upstate New York. The entire prison houses about 200 inmates. Just beyond the grounds is a lake. When inmates first arrive, they are requisitioned minimal basic items, such as: a scant few toiletries and the ubiquitous orange outfits. After a period, they receive the regular tan clothes. Initially they do not, however, receive footwear for the showers, which is necessary to avoid fungal infections. All other items inmates are allowed are available at the commissary.
In prison, Piper is reunited with Alex (who named Piper in her trial, resulting in Piper’s arrest), and they re-examine their relationship and deal with their fellow prisoners. The show often shows flashbacks of significant events from various inmates and prison guards’ pasts. These flashbacks typically explain how the inmate came to be in prison or otherwise further develop the character’s backstory. The majority of the characters featured are in prison for non-violent offenses, most of them related to narcotics, fraud and larceny, while some are in prison for organised crime, homicide and aggravated assault charges. Most are from lower- and middle-income backgrounds. The show also depicts corruption and inadequacies of the American prison system and the abuse of power by some correctional officers
Showers Edit Cleaning area for the inmates, equipped with showers, toilets and sinks. Most inmates have to take quick showers due to the lack of hot water, and also many use pads as slippers for their feet to avoid fungal infections. Most inmates are comfortable with walking around naked, and often sexual encounters happen in the showers. Hair Salon Edit Where inmates can go to get their hair cut or styled either by Sophia Burset, who enjoys the work she is doing, or by Denita, who has yet to make an appearance in the show. Cafeteria Edit The cafeteria is arguably the most dramatic spot in Litchfield, as it is a common area for all tribes and dorms. The room is very large with long tables and chairs for the inmates to eat at. TV Room Edit The TV room is used as an all-purpose recreation room. There is, of course, a wall-mounted to staff and the occasional inmate. The tables and chairs can be used for card or board games, or can be moved against the walls (they are not secured to the
PIPER CHAPMAN Piper was born June 7, 1981. She grew up knowing she would become a wealthy woman on the east coast in an upper middle-class family and is a self-proclaimed WASP. Piper’s parents were obsessed with appearances and projected this onto their children, and her father subsequently is unwilling to visit his daughter behind bars. She graduated from college, but spent some years after graduation travelling and seeking to find herself. Looking for a job after graduating from college Piper meets edgy Alex Vause at a bar. Though she has never dated a woman before, they quickly begin a relationship. In love and thirsting for adventure, Piper is unbothered by the fact that her girlfriend is an international drug smuggler.
In the beginning, Piper appears to be a somewhat innocent character who strives to be on her best behavior and not get in trouble with any of the inmates while doing her time quietly. However, throughout the series, a darker side of Piper is revealed, as she spends more time in prison, as one who is able to be cruel, spoiled, sanctimonious and manipulative to get what she wants, and heartlessly doing so, seen in her interactions with Brook Soso. Both sides of Piper are shown repeatedly throughout the series, albeit the former less the more time Piper spends in prison. Piper also has a habit of coming off as obnoxiously self-righteous at times. However, unlike many of her fellow inmates (notably, Alex), she is often willing to reflect upon her negative actions and work on character flaws pointed out by her peers (such as her commonly refferered-to self indulgent attitude).
ALEX VAUSE Alexandra “Alex” Vause is an inmate at Litchfield Penitentiary and the on-and-off lover of main character Piper Chapman. In Season Two, she gets released from Litchfield, but returns during Season Three due to Piper causing her to be caught violating her parole. Alex’s character is based on Nora (in reality named Catherine Cleary Wolters)[1] in the memoir, Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison. She is portrayed by Laura Prepon. Alex Vause is snarky, manipulative and street smart. While she does associate with other inmates, she also keeps to herself emotionally, although she isn’t afraid to fight back if provoked. Alex is often seen with a book in hand. Alex is good at reading people and is perceptive. Both Alex and Piper betray each other for personal gain, despite their feelings for each other. Alex relies on Piper just as much as Piper relies on her, but she uses her hard demeanor to hide it all, only showing weakness on rare occasion to close friends such as Nicky. Alex has good survival skills, is very smart and calm and usually has good sense of humor when facing problems. She later took a sexual interest in Piper Chapman after meeting her in a bar. Alex was living with her girlfriend Sylvia at the time, but Alex eventually broke up the relationship and began dating Piper. Alex gradually integrated Piper into the drug trade while they traveled the world living in luxury. Vause once convinced Piper to smuggle cash through customs at an airport in Europe, the crime for which Piper is doing time. Vause specifically named Piper during her testimony, which is what led to Piper’s later arrest. After Piper broke up with her, Vause began using heroin (though she later cleaned up in prison, frequenting AA there).
NICKY NICHOLS Nicole “Nicky” Nichols is a recurring inmate at Litchfield Penitentiary who’s currently in Maximum Security. She is portrayed by Natasha Lyonne. Nicky is sarcastic, humorous, kind, grounded and down-to-earth with an acerbic wit. She has a considerable sexual appetite, and in “Low Self Esteem City” even competes with Big Boo to have sex with as many inmates as possible. Despite her hardened, jokester exterior, Nicky has a soft side, seen most times especially around Morello. She is still affected by her past as a drug addict, as is shown when she speaks about her heroin addiction at AA. Her conflicted feelings towards heroin are shown by her shaken reaction when Taystee gives her heroin, as well as when she is shown staring into the vent containing the heroin she stole from Vee.
LORNA MORELLO Lorna “Morello” Muccio (Neé Morello), is an inmate at Litchfield Penitentiary. Morello is sweet and softhearted. She is likable, easy going, chipper, and optimistic most of the time. When threatened by Mendez to explain Red’s ways of importing contraband products, she becomes more somber and nervous but manages to stand up to him. She is very resourceful when it comes to beauty, using tampons to curl her hair and instant coffee as eyeshadow. For the brief time that the Prison Newsletter was running, she ran a beauty column that gave advice on using legal items as makeup. She is described as “a very pretty girl” by several of her fellow inmates. Although she is one of the most deceitful characters due to the constant lies about Christopher, she is also an inmate with genuine empathy and actions, shown in the tender lollipop scene with Miss Rosa.
CRAZY EYES Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren is a recurring inmate at Litchfield Penitentiary, portrayed by Uzo Aduba. Suzanne, better known by her prison nickname “Crazy Eyes,” can become very emotionally attached to people and this deters the other inmates from interacting with her. She is easily upset and is quickly frustrated, usually resulting in her hitting herself on the head and calling herself “stupid”. Her compassion and thoughtfulness become apparent, She enjoys poetry, reciting Shakespeare and writing poems for Piper. She is also often using poetical phrases and underlining her words with fitting gestures.
TAYSTEE
She is under medication which calms her down. Suzanne curbs her own sorrow and anxiety by cleaning the bathrooms at night. Despite what seems like a tendency to devote herself blindly to others, Suzanne does not respond well to perceived unkindness, and states at the end of Season One that Piper Chapman is a mean person.
Tasha “Taystee” Jefferson is an inmate at Litchfield Penitentiary. She is portrayed by Danielle Brooks. Taystee is a very funny person, who mainly stays within the group of black inmates (especially with Poussey). She claims to prefer life in “the system” (i.e., group homes, juvenile prison, and Litchfield Penitentiary) over “the outside”. Despite her less than ideal upbringing and often outrageous behaviour, she is highly intelligent, and shows great ambition.