# Why do some people go to court looking like a dirt bag?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-go-to-court-looking-like-a-dirt-bag/76970>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 19, 2001, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-go-to-court-looking-like-a-dirt-bag/76970 "2001-08-19T02:41:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-go-to-court-looking-like-a-dirt-bag/76970/1 "2001-08-19T02:41:58Z")

</div>

I’ve noticed on television shows about violent crimes, the defendant is shown in court looking like, well, shit. Long hair that looks like it hasn’t been washed for weeks, scragly beard, dirty clothes. Don’t their attorney (or public defender) tell these guys to clean up a bit? Geez, your on trial for capital murder, try to look like a normal person. Has anyone else noticed this?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-go-to-court-looking-like-a-dirt-bag/76970/2 "2001-08-19T02:56:03Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by pkbites \*  
> \*\*I’ve noticed on television shows about violent crimes, the defendant is shown in court looking like, well, shit. Long hair that looks like it hasn’t been washed for weeks, scragly beard, dirty clothes. Don’t their attorney (or public defender) tell these guys to clean up a bit? Geez, your on trial for capital murder, try to look like a normal person. Has anyone else noticed this? \*\*

Some people have no idea how their appearance affects how others see them. They come to court dressed like that because they don’t know any better. Most people I’ve seen on trial for anything serious make some sort of effort to clean themselves up at least a little.

Marc

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jaimest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/48db29/32.png) [@jaimest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaimest)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2001, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-some-people-go-to-court-looking-like-a-dirt-bag/76970/3 "2001-08-19T03:02:09Z")

</div>

Perhaps the strategy is one of being honest. How many times have you seen a guy in a courtroom wearing a suit that looks like a legal aide bought at Sears the day before. You can put a suit on anyone, but if they have swatistikas tatooed on their hands, or they are a wearing a gold chain big enough to winterize a set of tires on their neck; who are they fooling?