Christmas in prison
Lavonia Johnson, 30, is the mother of four and a convicted murderer serving time at the Mark H. Luttrell Correctional Center in Memphis, Tenn. She recently went shopping at the prison gym for Christmas gifts for her kids. This year, more families than ever will be celebrating the holidays with an incarcerated parent. (Lisa Waddell Buser / For The Times)
From left, Tamatha Townsend, Theola Thomas and Sherri Stewart pick out gifts for children and grandchildren during the shopping foray. It’s the second year of the program at the Memphis prison, where officials say the purpose is to strengthen the fragile connection between convicts and their children. (Lisa Waddell Buser / For The Times)
Volunteer Deborah Newman gives inmate Sunni Adkins a hug during the inmates’ shopping excursion at the prison gym. (Lisa Waddell Buser / For The Times)
Crystal Bratton shares a laugh with fellow inmates. Bratton purchased toys for her son Skyler. The Memphis prison’s chaplain, Alma Harris, noted: Its important for the children to get a personal gift ... a gift that their mother actually picked out. Because the children are doing time too. They may not be behind bars, but theyre doing time. (Lisa Waddell Buser / For The Times)
Lekethia McKinney is among the shopping inmates at Mark H. Luttrell Correctional Center. At Christmastime, the three days of shopping culiminate with a party for parents and kids, when children open gifts and are allowed to hug their parents as much as they want. During a typical visitation session, parents can embrace their children only when they enter and leave. (Lisa Waddell Buser / For The Times)
