Going to Prison, Part I

By Debora Gordon - I drove down to visit Lam in the Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP)  the weekend of December 7ththrough December 10th. I checked in by phone and email with the Public Information Officer, Lt. Jeff Smith, to help plan my visit. I learned what I could bring into the prison with me during my visit: almost nothing except my identification and a plastic bag filled with quarters, if I wanted to treat Lam (or myself) to any of the vending machine foodstuff available in the visitation area.