Prison Visits - Scott Key & Associates

Part of the job I love the most is travel. I don’t mean exotic glamour travel. When I say travel, I’m talking about prison visits. And when I talk about prison visits, I’m talking about South Georgia (and sometimes Northwest Georgia). When I come back to the office, I can’t help but tell people about the restaurants and little oddities along the way. Those stories either earn me stares or the occasional interested exclamation of, “Tell me more. I’ll definitely check that place out if I ever find myself taking I-75 to Macon, then taking I-16 for 60 miles, exiting, driving on a two-lane road for an hour and a half, and I need a great lunch spot in a place that isn’t on the way to any place in particular.”

It has been suggested that I write a guidebook for habeas corpus attorneys for the best places to eat near Georgia prisons. Of course, I’m not sure that a publisher would agree to take on a book with an audience of about three people. That said, I do have some favorites. And maybe I can begin the first draft of that book here.

The Drug Store. Hands down, the very best prison visit food ever can be found at The Drug Store in downtown Reidsville, Georgia. That is actually the name of the drug store. It has an old school diner in the back. After a morning spent slugging it out with the Atty. Gen. or going through security, The Drug Store is a good way to return to the outside. The front of the place sells all of the things that women might give each other a bridal showers. There is lots of upscale University of Georgia merchandise, different bags and gifts, and other sundry that one might expect to find in a small town drugstore. But in the back at the grill you will find the best burger that you will find anywhere. The burgers there are absolutely huge. Note, do not go to the drugstore if you have to go back to court for further habeas corpus proceedings in the afternoon. You will fall asleep.

Zunzi’s. If you are lucky enough to have a client house at Coastal State Prison in Savannah, Georgia, then it is worth the trip on into town for lunch here. This place doesn’t look like much, but it sells pretty fantastic African food delivered to you in a Styrofoam box. Don’t miss the African Sweet Tea. This place is favored by Savannah College of Art and Design students and one hungry appellate and post-conviction lawyer. It is well worth the few extra miles down Interstate 16.

Paradise Garden. Now, to the other side of the state. This is not a restaurant recommendation as much as it is something to see. If you go to Hays State Prison, then you must go see the previous home and now Art Museum associated with primitive artist, Howard Finster. Weird and old time religious at the same time and utterly cool.

Yoder’s. This is a can’t miss restaurant for a visit to Macon State Prison in Oglethorpe/Montezuma, Georgia. It is a Mennonite restaurant serving up fine repast. Try to get there before the buses hauling elderly Baptist groups arrive. Even if you do, get in line. It’s worth the wait. Great grub, low prices, and a sincere waitstaff in period costume.

Cracker Barrel and Subway. I don’t love it, but if your prison visit doesn’t yield a great stop like some of the ones listed above, then you will end up at a Subway or Cracker Barrel. Either that or you will end up at that ubiquitous stable of small-town breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks that is the downtown Dairy Queen. If you’ve really taken a drubbing from the Atty. Gen., a dipped cone on your way back north up interstate I 16 can make things seem somehow better. Two bites into this chocolate and vanilla goodness, and you’ll be saying to yourself, “that wasn’t so bad. After all, the judge didn’t say no. He wants to read a brief, and I just know I can turn him around with that brief.”

There are other haunts that I love on prison visits and habeas corpus trips. Perhaps I will post others on a slow blog day. But these are my absolute top. Feel free to post any suggestions you have for prison visit gems.

As I’ve mentioned before, I make many prison visits. It’s part of the job in Georgia appellate practice. All the appellate courts, the parole board, and most of the counties where convictions originate are in or near Atlanta. And most of the prisons are south of Macon. I’ve learned some things over time about how to do them right and how to do them poorly. Here are my tips for a successful prison visit.

Remember that it’s about the relationship as much as it is about the case. Representing a person on a major legal matter in a situation where you don’t get to talk that much is a formula for alienation, misunderstandings, and frustrations for both the lawyer and the client. So, make sure you carve out some time to learn some things about the person you’re representing as a person and not merely as a client.
Do some homework up front. When you can, tell the client that about your upcoming visit, list the things you would like to discuss, and ask him about the things he’d like to discuss. Prepare a loose agenda for your meeting.
Avoid scheduling visits near count time. Every prison does a count of all the inmates at least once a day. The count takes a while to do and can either delay your visit or shorten it. When scheduling your visit, be sure to ask when count is done.
Plan to wake up early or to stay overnight before. You have a long drive ahead. But it’s possible to have a visit early enough to make it back to the office for some quality time in the afternoon.
If you want to bring in a laptop or iPad, be sure to ask first. Even when you do, have a pad and pen ready in case the person at the gate didn’t get the memo. Every prison is different when it comes to allowing electronics into the facility, but most don’t allow them.
Don’t bring in items from family or friends to give to the client. If you are going to give the client anything, be sure to clear it with the facility first.
If you will need a document to be notarized, be sure to make arrangements with the facility
You’ll have three choices for lunch: something brought, something fried, or subway. If you want to sample local color, you’ll be going with fried. For years, I’ve been thinking of publishing a book for lawyers called habeas food, to serve as a guide for the best places to eat on a South Georgia Prison visit.
Bring in your keys, two forms of ID, your pen, and your paper. Leave everything else in your car.
Know your car tag number. You’ll have to write it on the sign in sheet.
Load the iPod with your favorite music or an audio book. Prison visits always bring out my inner Johnny Cash fan.

Above all, enjoy the road trip. It could be worse. There are much worse ways to practice law. Instead, you’re on the wide open road south of Macon.

Tag Archive for: Prison Visits

Places to Eat and See on Prison Visits in Georgia

Making the Most of Your Georgia Prison Visit

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