Meaning of SNY Yard in Prison

There are many prison-related terms that you should know, especially for those of you who work in the military. One of them is SNY, which stands for Special Needs Yard. Have you ever heard the term SNY? If you do not know its meaning, let us explore the meaning of SNY. Make sure you read this article until the end so you can understand it well.

Meaning of SNY Yard in Prison

What is the Meaning of SNY in Prison?

The Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) is a special type of prison built by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) for prisoners with special or sensitive needs. The term “special needs” here can cover a wide range of circumstances. This type of prison is intended for prisoners who require special protection or isolation from the General Population (GP) yard for various reasons, such as being subjected to violence or harassment from fellow prisoners, receiving threats and gang affiliation. In addition, the prisoners convicted of sex crimes as well as people in the LGBTQ community are also housed in SNYs for protection so that they can serve their sentences safely.

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According to the CDCR’s official website, CDCR codified the Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) regulation and the Non-Designated Programming Facilities (NDPF) program in November 2022. From the CDCR’s official website, it explains that SNY is a designation for prisoners who have safety concerns while living in a General Population (GP) yard, while NDPF is a place that houses people regardless of their GP or SNY status, thus providing prisoners with greater opportunities for rehabilitation programs. Typically, an individual will only be transferred to SNY after a review of their case, potential safety concerns, and rehabilitation needs. That way, prisoners can safely undertake joint programs. Apparently, these programs have been implemented. Now, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has included it in the regulations to provide detailed requirements for both programs.

The SNY program is basically a program that aims to be an alternative to isolation. Also, SNY programs offer more opportunities for rehabilitation and other programs for SNY prisoners. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), there are currently 16 prisons in California that have SNY yards. It is reported that approximately 20% of the population in state prisons are housed in SNY facilities. Deep down in the hearts of many prisoners, they want to carry out effective rehabilitation. But the mindset of the prison camp and its influence in their environment makes it impossible for them to be free from the prison in their minds.

Reason the Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) was added to the CDRC Regulations

Previously, CDCR’s SNY appointment policy was directed through a policy memorandum, which did not require custody staff to evaluate and verify whether or not the incarcerated person requesting SNY appointment had security concerns. This SNY designation directive led to a gradual increase in the SNY population, and also led to increased incidents of violence within this population, including the formation of SNY Security Threat Groups (STGs) and illicit activities. Therefore, SNY was added to the CDCR rules. As we said that in November 2022, CDCR codified into regulations the Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) program. The codification of the SNY regulation provides CDCR with stringent criteria to more carefully verify systemic safety concerns before someone is placed in SNY. These SNY regulations certainly benefit the population designated by SNY.

There are several reasons why someone is placed in SNY. One of the main reasons is safety. Some inmates receive threats and violence or have gang problems, so they fear for their welfare behind bars and are better placed in SNY. Also, inmates who have helped the authorities to become witnesses in legal proceedings are likely to be placed in SNYs for their safety. Another reason why individuals are placed in SNY is to protect him/her from potential harm or abuse. This is necessary for prisoners suffering from mental health issues, LGBT individuals especially LGBT individuals who are often abused, or any person at risk of exploitation.

Requirements for Prisoners to Have SNY Designation

Prisoners can request to be transferred to a SNY to be away from people in a General Population (GP) yard so that they feel safe serving their sentence. However, in order to be placed in SNY, make sure they qualify according to the California code of Regulations (CCR).

Here are some criteria to be placed in SNY yard in prison:

    • Prisoners express their safety concerns and request SNY appointments with clear reasons.
    • Prisoners have specific, documented, and verified systemic safety concerns. This is as defined in section 3000.
    • Prisoners are not dangerous or a threat to the safety and security of the SNY population.
    • If the prisoner is documented as a validated member of Security Threat Group I (STG-1), then the prisoner meets the debriefing process under section 3378.5, as defined in section 3000.

Those are some of the requirements that a prisoner must fulfill to be able to be placed in the Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) in prison.

Based on the New SNY Regulations, are Custody Staff Required to Re-Evaluate All Individuals Incarcerated Under the SNY Designation?

No. Under the new SNY regulations, custody staff are not required to re-evaluate all individuals placed in SNY yards. In addition, under the new SNY regulations, an individual can also request that his/her SNY designation be removed to the Institution Classification Committee (ICC), or alternatively the Institution Classification Committee (ICC) can choose to remove the individual’s SNY designation. In any case, before the Institution Classification Committee (ICC) makes a recommendation to remove the SNY designation, a thorough evaluation needs to be completed and documented in the Confidential Inmate Safety Closure Report (CISCR).

According to section 3000, a Confidential Inmate Safety Closure Report (CISCR) is a confidential, documented, thorough evaluation conducted by the correctional staff to collect facts and evidence to assess inmate safety concerns prior to committee action. The CISCR will examine the credibility and nature of the individual’s safety concerns. Thus, the Confidential Inmate Safety Closure Report (CISCR) provides the Institution Classification Committee (ICC) with critical information to make an informed decision regarding the individual’s safety and referral for appropriate housing placement.

Can SNY Designated Individuals Be Placed in the NDPF?

Yes, of course. Please note that SNY designations is made based on the facts and evidence indicating the existence of systemic safety issues that occur in a portion of the general population (GP). General population facilities may not be occupied by individuals with SNY designation. However, SNY-designated individuals may be placed in NDPFs as NDPFs house people regardless of GP or SNY status. For your information, NDPF is a type of integrated housing for individuals who want to participate in the rehabilitation program and comply with the department’s policies. After being placed in an NDPF, it is expected that individuals can create a program with other individuals. We have been informed that currently, more than 30,000 incarcerated people, many of whom are appointed by SNY, are positively creating programs in NDPFs.

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