Written by Kerman, Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison is the subject of discussion in this paper. At age 24, Kerman’s friend talked her into carrying and delivering a bag of money belonging to a drug lord from West African. Even though she got out of the life and built another, eventually, the past caught up with her. This book is a memoir of the repercussions of her actions 20 years ago.
In the memoir, Kerman describes herself as a “nice blond lady”. When Kerman’s lawyer presented her with the prosecutors unearthing materials, in them was a detailed statement from Nora that placed Kerman in the scene as a money launderer (Kerman, 2013). At this level, according to the U.S. laws “conspiracy charges” and mandatory minimum sentencing was the only two fates that Kerman faced. Prosecutors use a conspiracy charge to strengthen court cases. The conspiracy charge is a testimony from a confidential informant about another’s involvement in a crime. Under this charge, Kerman found out that the charging of the case would be on the amount of drugs involved in the operation and not her role in the entire criminal business (Kerman, 2013). The American law stipulates that the federal judge make the final decision on a sentencing according to “war or drugs law”. The sentence in such cases is usually 12-20 years. According to Kerman, that is the reason as to why since 1980 the prisons population has increased by 300%, which translates to one in every 100 American adults being locked up (Kerman, 2013).
After six years In and out of the federal court, Kerman heard her case sentencing on December 8, 2003. Kerman stood in front of the judge and gave out her statement. Despite the promise that a “nice blond lady” would never go to jail, Kerman got a 15-month sentence in a federal prison news that came as a relief to Kerman (Kerman, 2013). After months waiting, the decision on which correctional facility to attend finally came in a letter directing her to report at the Federal Correctional Institution (FTI) in Danbury Conn on 4th February2004.
At the reception, Kerman states, “three minutes into my self-surrender, and I already felt humiliated and beaten” (Kerman, 2013). After Larry (Kerman’s fiancé) had left, the guard walked Kerman into the Federal Correction Institution. The more they went into the facility, the more scared Kerman felt. In the holding cell, Kerman filled a form that guaranteed her some granny panties, cheap nylon, a bullet bra, a pair of elastic waist khaki pants, and top, tube socks and blue canvas. The guard asked Kerman to strip, frisked her, and then ordered her to dress in the uniform received (Kerman, 2013). Kerman automatically transformed into an inmate after a change of clothes to the uniform.
Karman received her ID that she stated in her book made her look strangely like a serial killer; “The ID was red, had a bar code with a U.S. department of justice federal bureau of prisons- INMATE”. The id had 11187-424 as the registration number that represented Kerman at the facility (Kerman, 2013). The guard directed Kerman to medical where she received basic medical interview and advice that made her feel relaxed. She received a mini toothbrush and paste, beddings, shampoo, soap, towels and a face-towel, and a brown coat that had a broken zip all stacked in a laundry bag with.
Kerman states that a good-looking woman with lipstick on her lips received her. This particular woman looked nothing like other inmates until she introduced herself. Her name was Minetta. What was so appealing with the place is that the most of the buildings were old. Minetto showed her around before taking her to a guard who called Mr. Butorsky (Kerman’s counselor) who confirmed Kerman’s room no. Minetta showed her to her room, introduced her and asked Annette to take care of the newbie (Kerman, 2013).
Annette looked old but was very warm in welcoming Kerman into the facility. She gave Kerman her locker and informed her of the count, something that shocked Kerman. Annette stated that there is the 4 PM, 2 AM, 5 AM, and 9 PM count. She went further and inquired if Kerman had a Pac number, which she needed in order to make calls, which she answered no. Annette then told her to get a phone sheet that she can fill to grant Kerman a phone call. Annette told Kerman that Breakfast was between 6:15-7:15 am; lunch was at eleven, and dinner was right after the four o’clock count (Kerman, 2013).
When Kerman wanted to make her bed, Annette stopped her and insisted on making it for her. She did this and explained that she and Luz did it to pass the inspection (Kerman, 2013). Annette informs Kerman that the inspection happened anytime Mr. Butosky felt like it should. Annette clearly indicated to Kerman that inmates sleep on top of the bed and not under the sheets. Suddenly a guard shouted out and signaled to the women that it was time for the count. Annette informs her of the red light that guards used to indicate that there was a count. She strongly advised Kerman that whenever the light was on, no inmate should be moving. She continued to state that inmates were supposed to be at the right place during the inspection until the light went off (Kerman, 2013).
Immediately after the inspection, the CO on the P.A called out numbers that indicated when the honor cubes were to eat. Annette indicated that they called them in order of the first to the last in the inspection. Mostly it was the dorms, then the rooms. At the mess, an inmate gestured Kerman towards Gloria, an inmate who was giving out toiletries (Kerman, 2013). The inmate told Kerman that Gloria was finally going home, something that gave Kerman hope of leaving the place when her time comes. Eventually, Kerman was alone for a while, and the only thing she could think of was Larry and her family. She rushed to the CO’s office and pleaded with Mr. Toricella to grant her a phone call. The first person she called was her fiancé and requested him to come visit her during the weekend along with the family (Kerman, 2013).
Kerman noticed that in the prison, there existed tribes of Blacks, Whites, and Latinos a clear indication that racism was rampant. These tribes sprang into action when a newbie inmate of their color reported in the institution. When the women from Asian, Native American, or Middle Eastern origins walked in, they used to receive a patchwork welcome by the kindest women in the dominating tribe (Kerman, 2013). White women at the FCI helped Kerman and constantly asked how she was. Others even went further and bought her things that she required before finalization of her paperwork and assured her that things were going to be okay. On the second day, Kerman and other newbies had to attend the orientation that lasted four hours where the Introduction of different departments in the institution took place. The newbies received four pairs of uniforms that had nametags of former inmates they belonged to and two pairs of shoes. Finally, the inmates meet the Warden Kuma Deboo (Kerman, 2013).
Warden Deboo stated to the Admission and Orientation (A&O) or newbies that the facility had a zero tolerance for sexual misconduct. However, Kerman later learned that the ‘sexual misconduct’ was between guards and inmates and not between prisoners (Kerman, 2013). One of the inmates informed Kerman that the warden was in the facility for just 15 minutes on Thursdays and that she did not run the facility. On the visiting days, inmates’ flipped a light at the visiting room after their heard their names, thus alerting the C.O to open the door something he did willingly or unwillingly at times. Kerman states, “In the visiting room, hugging and kissing your visitor (no tongue) was permitted at the beginning and the end of the visit” (Kerman, 2013). All visitors were supposed to vacate the premises by 7:45 pm. In the prison, A&Os needed to learn the formal and the informal rules. Failure to do so meant serious consequences. Kerman at one occasion was called to the CO’s office for not joining other A&Os on snow duty, and she was ordered out to join her comrades. Butorsky’s departure changed so many things in the camp when Finn took over. The inspections were conducted poorly, and there was plenty of “sexin” in the dorms and drugs were in circulation (Kerman, 2013).
In jail, Larry and family visited Kerman constantly. She received plenty of books and letters from people, friends, and sympathizers. The camp was at times silent and still, but other times, it had frenzied action. In the mess, Kerman mostly sat alone and never took the coffee at breakfast, which she described as terrible (Kerman, 2013). At lunch and dinner, Kerman outlines that the lines were long, and the noise was very loud. She states that she found the meals “nerve-racking”. However, whenever Kerman needed help, her friends came to her aid. Kerman had a good connection with all the A&Os. According to Kerman (2013), “ the most popular meals were McDonalds-style hamburger patties and the rare deep-fried chicken.” Karman was at one point informed to watch what she was saying; otherwise, her words would land her into trouble. The dorms had 200 inmates, although the number would go up to 250 inmates. At least 100-125 were Latinos, 24% blacks, and then the rest were Asia’s, Native America, and Middle Eastern all in small numbers.
Kerman hardly broke the rules or got into fights (Kerman, 2013). The only fight she got involved in was being cursed at in public but never in physical fighting. Kerman helped newbies with their assignments and helped them around. She was relocated to cube 18 in the new B dorm. Compared to where she was in the rooms, dorm B was hell on earth a place she calls down the rabbit hole. Kerman had many friends, thus an easy time at the prison, even though her life in it was not all rosy. The departures affected her to the point she became obsessed with them. Kerman says the prison was corrupt and harsh. The war on drugs ideology did not apply and to her it was a joke. Kerman served 13 months of her 15-month sentencing.
Reference
Kerman, P. (2013). Orange is the New Black: My year in a women’s prison. New York, NY: Spiegel & Grau trade paperback.
