New policies for Christmas decorating at CCWF

Residents respond with letters to the editor

For more than a quarter century, residents of Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) have participated in a festive annual tradition: decorating housing units for the holidays and participating in a friendly decoration competition. The January 2025 issue of CCWF Paper Trail reported on this unique celebration; the article offers outside readers a glimpse into what our lives are like during the holidays.

From what we’ve observed, nursing offices, the library, education, various worksites, and administration buildings are all decked out with festive décor this year. But the holidays will look very different for us in our residential areas, our “home” within the facility.

On Dec. 9, CCWF residents were informed that our normal decorations will not be allowed. Decorations that transformed housing units into various winter wonderlands cannot be constructed this year due to updated guidance from the fire marshal. According to a memorandum titled “Holiday Decorating Safety Guidance” dated Dec. 5, 2025, residents will only be allowed to decorate 30% of any wall, compared to years past when the restrictions only stipulated that decorations could not cover entire walls. The intent of the change, the memo states, is “to help the institution provide a reasonable safe fire environment while maintaining a festive atmosphere for both staff and inmates [sic].”

Initially, residents were informed that not only were we being more limited to how much we could decorate, but each yard was to be assigned a theme to adhere to for our decorations. This information was provided by the Community Resource Manager’s (CRM’s) office and delivered by the Inmate Advisory Council (IAC) via oral announcement and a typed announcement placed on the IAC board.

Two days later, on Dec. 11, the CRM’s office sent a notice via residents’ tablets revising these directions. Residents were instructed to decorate a maximum of one bulletin board but could choose their own theme.

As a result of these changes, residents have been confused about what will be permitted. They have also felt disheartened, saddened, and angry about their ability to decorate this year. CCWF Paper Trail received more than two dozen letters to the editor from residents expressing these emotions. We have included some letters as well as some quotes from our peers that express how people are feeling.

CCWF Paper Trail felt the need to share these letters because this change to a longstanding tradition has impacted morale around this sensitive time of year. Naturally, we all want to live in a facility that is safe. We also want to preserve our customs, or to have the ability to adapt them in a way that maintains their meaning.

For those of us who have been incarcerated at CCWF for decades, the way we celebrate Christmas becomes our cherished memories. It is how we cope with being away from families and loved ones during what is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. Choosing a theme and working on the decorations within housing units have always been ways that residents come together and work toward a common goal. It is a tangible thing that helps promote unity and a sense of belonging for those of us at CCWF. It also helps us maintain agency in an environment that is not always conducive to individual choice.

We are glad each unit can choose a decorating theme this year. We hope next year, CCWF can start conversations early about sourcing fire marshal-approved paper for decorations, so units can enjoy the kind of Christmas cheer we’ve historically had.

This year, we will no doubt come together and find joy amongst our friends, we will make our holiday meals, and do other things that make us smile. But we will not be doing any of this in a festively decorated dayroom. Instead, it will feel like any other day.

“The winter season for an incarcerated person can be a very lonely, depressing time
due to not being able to spend time with their loved ones. Being on the decorating
committee for 506 last year, I had first-hand knowledge on how much joy came from
working together as a community to decorate the building and spread holiday cheer.
I saw people who loathed each other singing carols, smiling and laughing while they
painted candy canes or cut out M&Ms. To limit our ability to ‘deck’ the units may limit
our opportunity to spread holiday cheer this season, but I see it as a challenge to
discover and develop new activities and/or events, within the regulations of CDCR,
that can bring together our community during what can be a very depressing time in
prison. Challenge accepted.”

– Jessalyn Graham

“It is very hurtful and sad that we can’t decorate our current ‘home.’ It
feels as if we are being robbed of our joy or what little we have in this very
ugly space.”

– Lashay Mallory

“I feel sad and discouraged. I feel like it is not going to be a Christmas without the
decorations. Mental health is going to be busy.”

– Cecelia Jackson

“Esta es mi 15 Navidad en Chowchilla, yo requerdo que en estas fechas, todo era
alegria por todas las festividades…y ahora nos quitaron todo el gusto de poder
decorar y poner el traditional…Da mucha tristesa.”

– Rebeca Nivarez

“After spending my 12th consecutive holiday season away from my friends
and family back home, not seeing the festive decorations around the institution
has put a damper on my holiday spirit. This year’s holiday season has been
reduced to catching holiday specials on late night television…”

– Porche Wright