How to endure yard downs

Ground time can be “found time” with a little creativity

Here at Central California Women’s Facility, we are rarely idle. We constantly stroll along to our numerous program assignments, medical appointments, and more. It is important to be on time, but just like the free world has traffic jams, we have “yard downs.” 

For those of you who may not know, a yard down is when an alarm sounds that requires additional correctional officers to respond. Yard downs can be because of something small, like a porta-potty truck, or more serious, like an altercation or a medical emergency. 

When that alarm goes off, all incarcerated people on the corresponding yard(s) must get down into a seated position immediately, rain or shine, and stay there until officers announce, “Normal on the yard.” CCWF is often plagued by alarms. Not a day goes by that we do not experience at least one yard down. 

This can be disheartening when you have a busy day ahead of you and even irritating when you wait for longer periods of time. The longest yard down I have personally experienced is two hours. My go-to to get through yard downs is to always carry a book. 

I asked a few people, “What do you do to get through or cope with yard downs? And do you stay motivated to get to your destination?”