The Mind-Blowing Reasons Behind Every Major 'Orange Is The New Black' Character's Imprisonment

When fans watch the popular Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, they often question why every character is in prison. The show takes a deep look into the prison system and exposes the corruption that exists within, such as abusive guards and racial discrimination. Initially centered around Piper Chapman, the main protagonist, the focus gradually shifts to the ensemble of inmates at Litchfield Penitentiary. Orange Is the New Black received widespread acclaim during its run on Netflix. One aspect that critics particularly praised was the way it humanized the prisoners and depicted the surreal reality of life in Litchfield Penitentiary and prison in general. This realistic portrayal is partly due to the fact that the show is based on a true story. Throughout its run, the show won four Emmy Awards, three of which were received in its first season. Since Orange Is the New Black revolves around the Litchfield Penitentiary, many of the main characters are inmates serving sentences for a wide range of crimes, including drug smuggling and involvement in illegal gambling rings.

Piper Chapman

Orange is the New Black's Piper Chapman served a 15-month prison sentence for a range of offenses, which included perjury, inciting a riot, and smuggling drugs for her partner, Alex Vause. Additionally, she faced charges but was not convicted of being an accessory to murder, multiple acts of vandalism, theft, being an accessory to torture, and multiple incidents of public indecency. Notably, she also physically assaulted Tiffany Doggett and manipulated evidence against Maria Ruiz. Following her release in season 7 of Orange Is the New Black, Piper went on to live with Neri and Cal and found employment at a Thai restaurant.

Alex Vause

It's unclear how long Alex Vause served in prison, but she was incarcerated for heroin trafficking and violating probation. In addition, she carried the burden of an unproven murder charge and the gruesome acts of dissecting and dismembering a human body. A portion of her sentence was reduced as a reward for betraying Piper Chapman, yet she remained behind bars until the conclusion of Orange Is the New Black. Regrettably, viewers will never learn the length of her imprisonment since there will be no season 8 of the series.

Galina "Red" Reznikov

Galina Reznikov, also known as "Red," worked as a factory employee in Soviet-era Russia during the 1970s. After relocating to the United States, Red was convicted and sentenced to a 14-year prison term for instigating a riot and being heavily connected to a murder conspiracy involving the Russian mafia. Despite being incarcerated, Red never underwent rehabilitation and continued to engage in criminal activities, ultimately taking control of Red's Family and even attempting to strangle Frieda during the events of season 6. As a result of her lengthy imprisonment, Red remained confined by the conclusion of Orange Is the New Black.

Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren

Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren, a beloved character, possesses one of the most heartbreaking backgrounds imaginable. Her tragic tale involves a conviction of 15 years in prison for the crimes of kidnapping and involuntary manslaughter. The unfortunate incident left Suzanne feeling isolated, prompting her to seek companionship at a nearby park. There, she encountered a young boy whom she brought back to her apartment. Tragically, the boy became frightened, believing he was being abducted, and in a desperate attempt to escape, he fell to his demise from the fire escape. Rather than receiving the necessary treatment at a mental health facility, Suzanne found herself incarcerated, revealing the complex struggles faced by individuals with mental illnesses within the prison system. Throughout the entirety of Orange Is the New Black, this profound issue is explored, ultimately culminating in the conclusion of the series with Crazy Eyes remaining behind bars.

Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson

Orange is the New Black's Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson gained immense popularity as a character on the show. Her initial imprisonment stemmed from charges of heroin trafficking, a parole violation, and inciting a riot. However, despite her innocence, she was unfairly sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Correction Officer Desi Piscatella. This heartbreaking tale unfolded amidst the chaos of a riot, where Officer Natoli accidentally took Desi's life. Shockingly, the CERT officers not only fired at Natoli again but also fabricated evidence to implicate Taystee, who ultimately took the blame for the murder.

Nicky Nichols

Nicky Nichols received an initial five-year prison sentence for breaking and entering, as well as possessing heroin. During her time behind bars, Red supported her in overcoming addiction and provided care during the challenging process of cold turkey and detoxification. However, even with this support, Nicky's criminal activities persisted, and she continued to engage in drug dealing. When authorities discovered her involvement in smuggling heroin within Litchfield Penitentiary, her sentence was extended to an undisclosed duration. Consequently, she remained incarcerated until the conclusion of Orange Is the New Black. The inclusion of characters like Nicky contributed to the immense popularity of this remarkable prison-focused series.

Tiffany "Pennsatucky" Doggett

Tiffany Doggett, also known as Pennsatucky, received a minimum sentence of 12 years for committing aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possessing unregistered firearms, and attempting to escape from custody. She shot a woman at an abortion clinic, provoked by the woman's mocking comments about her numerous past abortions. Although she was also involved in a conspiracy to murder Piper Chapman, attempted murder, and drug possession within the prison, Doggett was not convicted for these offenses. Throughout the final season of Orange Is the New Black, Doggett remained incarcerated while striving to obtain her GED. However, her pursuit ended in failure, leading to an unfortunate overdose on drugs and her tragic demise.

Gloria Mendoza

Gloria Mendoza spent an undisclosed period behind bars for orchestrating food stamp fraud in her small neighborhood store. Her intention was to secure a livelihood for her two children who were under her care, alongside the two she had to leave back in Puerto Rico. Throughout her time on the series "Orange Is the New Black," Gloria Mendoza demonstrated an astonishing display of motherly affection by dutifully caring for her fellow inmates. As the show reaches its conclusion, she finds herself on the verge of release, as it is revealed that Luscheck had falsely accused her of smuggling phones, a crime he was guilty of committing himself.

Cindy Hayes

Cindy Hayes, a former TSA agent and security officer at a Pittsburgh airport, found herself incarcerated for her involvement in theft. Prior to her capture and subsequent arrest, Hayes had been surreptitiously pilfering items and food from airport kiosks for an extended period of time. Throughout the initial season, she participated in the Scared Straight program within the prison, adopting a largely lighthearted demeanor by engaging in pranks and pushing people's buttons. Finally, in the seventh season of Orange Is the New Black, Cindy Hayes was granted an early release, resulting in her unfortunate descent into homelessness.

Dayanara "Daya" Diaz

Dayanara Diaz initially received a 44-month prison sentence for illegal drug possession. Prior to her, her mother had already been convicted, and both women became entangled in drug-related activities due to their association with a dealer called Cesar, who happened to be dating Daya's mother. While incarcerated, Daya developed a romantic relationship with Officer John Bennett. However, during the uprising in season 4, she committed the murder of a correctional officer named Humphrey, subsequently facing a highly probable life sentence in prison. Consequently, the guards started subjecting her to regular physical abuse. At the conclusion of Orange Is the New Black, she remained behind bars, now battling an addiction to oxycontin and posing a greater threat than ever before.

Lorna Morello

Poussey Washington

Lorna Morello was sentenced to 34 months in Orange Is the New Black for committing mail fraud, violating a restraining order, and attempting murder. This occurred during her involvement in a mail-order scam, where she encountered a man and developed feelings for him. However, when he did not reciprocate her affection, she resorted to stalking him and made an attempt on his life and that of his girlfriend using a crude explosive device. Although Lorna Morello had two years remaining on her sentence at the conclusion of the show, her unpredictable and perilous behavior in prison suggested that she would likely serve an extended period of time.

Poussey Washington, who was sentenced to six years in prison for trespassing and being caught in possession of cannabis with the intention to distribute, tragically lost her life due to the accidental suffocation caused by a correctional officer, Baxter Bayley. This incident occurred during a peaceful demonstration in the cafeteria, further highlighting the unjust and brutal environment within the prison, as depicted in Orange Is the New Black. The loss of Poussey was not only heartbreaking but also particularly devastating because she was known for her kind-heartedness and never posed a threat to anyone.

Marisol "Flaca" Gonzales

Marisol Gonzales found herself imprisoned following a tragic incident at her high school where a student took their own life by jumping off the school's roof. Although it was not directly Marisol's responsibility as a teacher, the student's death was connected to the fake drugs being produced and sold by Flaca within the school. The student mistakenly believed he was experiencing the effects of the drug before his tragic decision. Marisol was convicted of fraud and endangerment, leading to her continued incarceration until the conclusion of Orange Is the New Black season 7. Towards the end of the series, Flaca had a radio show in the prison.