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What is a Lockdown?

By G. Wiesen
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 8,424
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A lockdown is typically an event during which a place will be secured to ensure that no one is able to enter or leave without people in control of the location being aware of such movements. This is typically used in prisons and similar correctional facilities during emergency situations, to ensure that prisoners do not escape. The name of this type of event comes from the tendency of all of the cells and doors being locked to ensure security. A “lockdown” can also be a state in which other locations find themselves at heightened security.

There are a number of different ways in which a lockdown can occur and be ordered. One of the simplest forms of lockdown can occur in a prison or similar correctional facility. In this type of location, lockdowns are usually associated with prisoners attempting to escape or during emergency situations. To prevent escapes, or prisoners using an emergency as a distraction they could use to their advantage, prisoners are returned to their cells and all doors are locked and secured.

This is one of the most common usages of the term “lockdown,” though it can refer to heightened security in other settings as well. These alternative lockdowns can also live up to the name, and may involve doors being locked or otherwise monitored to ensure greater security. Some retail stores, for example, utilize a lockdown system in situations in which a child is reported as missing in the store. In order to better prevent kidnappings or children wandering away from these stores alone, once the employees of the store are notified a child is missing then all of the doors are monitored to ensure any children leaving the store are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

A lockdown can also be more metaphorical in nature, but still typically used in reference to a state of heightened security. This could refer to a country or city that is under martial law for some reason, and a location might not literally be locked, but travel though the area could be so closely monitored as to make it feel impenetrable. The term has also entered other forms of popular usage to refer to security, and a computer could be said to be in a state of lockdown if security was installed to prevent users from accessing the system from outside terminals.

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Discussion Comments
By Chmander — On Jul 11, 2014

Lockdowns can also occur within a neighborhood. For example, if there's danger lurking nearby, the city could be put on alert, the streets could be blocked off, and you may even be advised not to leave your house. This is just one of the few examples of lockdowns.

By Euroxati — On Jul 10, 2014

Even though a lot of people I know don't take practice drills seriously, whether it's a fire drill or even a tornado drill, we should still remember that the teachers and staff are trying to prepare us for the real thing. For example, if you don't take tornado drills seriously, then how will you know what to do when there's a sighting nearby?

As an even better example, what about if someone broke into the school? It would be no laughing matter, and you'd truly see how serious the situation could be, especially considering the fact that it's not a drill.

By Viranty — On Jul 10, 2014

Even though the article doesn't mention this, schools can also be known for having practice lockdowns as well, which are drills that are to be used for practice just in case a real emergency were to happen. However, based on my experience, I really think that teachers and staff should inform the students of the lockdown before attempting to do a "practice" one.

For example, one time when I was middle school, we did a practice lockdown in my gym, and the teacher didn't even give us a warning. I thought that someone had actually broken into the school, and was going on a rampage. Just imagine the relief I felt when I realized that it was for practice.

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