Homelessness: Compassionate Enforcement (From Police and the Homeless: Creating a Partnership Between Law Enforcement and Social Service Agencies in the Development of Effective Policies and Programs, P 87-97, 1997, Martin L. Forst, ed. - See NCJ-167769)

• NCJ Number: 167774
• Author(s): D E Butler
• Date Published: 1997
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter describes, from the perspective of the police chief, the changing role of law enforcement, especially regarding their interactions with homeless persons.

Abstract

The chapter discusses the policies and procedures of the Berkeley, California, police department. There are at least six categories of homeless persons, each requiring a different approach and different handling by police: (1) individuals who do not want to go to a shelter or transitional publicly owned housing; (2) mentally disabled homeless persons; (3) individuals who simply want to live outdoors; (4) families with children; (5) substance-addicted homeless; and (6) professional panhandlers posing as homeless persons. The article presents baseline demographic data gathered in interviews of 51 homeless persons in Berkeley. The city has linked the police department with a mobile crisis unit, has established a multi-agency service center to deal with the problems of the homeless and indigent population and has enlisted the services of both traditional social service organizations and private sector service providers. While the police contribute to Berkeley's holistic approach to solving problems related by homelessness, the use of police power must be reserved for clear-cut violations of law.