Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
A regional public media collaboration serving the Rocky Mountain States of Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

It Isn't A Crime To Be Homeless In Boise, Court Says

Adam Cotterell
/
Boise State Public Radio

A federal appeals court is siding with several homeless people in Boise who have sued the city for prosecuting them for sleeping outside.

The ruling from the 9 th Circuit Court of Appeals makes it clear: “… as long as there is no option of sleeping indoors, the government cannot criminalize indigent, homeless people for sleeping outdoors, on public property …”

Eric Tars, a lawyer with the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, worked on the case.

“Communities cannot use the criminal justice system to deal with their policy failure to address the need for housing and healthcare in their community,” Tars says.

Advocates like Tars are cheering the ruling. They interpret it to mean that homeless people who have been banned from shelters for not participating in religious programs can’t get fined for sleeping outside.  

“The court is saying it is cruel and unusual to punish somebody for something that they can’t avoid doing. You need to sleep and if you can’t do that in a private place, the city cannot punish you for doing it in a public place," Tars says.

The ruling could have broad implications. As of 2016, one-third of cities tracked by homeless advocates outlaw public camping and more than a quarter of them ban sleeping in public.

Boise officials say they’re reviewing the ruling. Follow James Dawson on Twitter @RadioDawson for more local news.

Copyright 2018 Boise State Public Radio

Copyright 2020 Boise State Public Radio News. To see more, visit Boise State Public Radio News.

James Dawson joined Boise State Public Radio as the organization's News Director in 2017. He oversees the station's award-winning news department. Most recently, he covered state politics and government for Delaware Public Media since the station first began broadcasting in 2012 as the country's newest NPR affiliate. Those reports spanned two governors, three sessions of the Delaware General Assembly, and three consequential elections. His work has been featured on All Things Considered and NPR's newscast division. An Idaho native from north of the time zone bridge, James previously served as the public affairs reporter and interim news director for the commercial radio network Inland Northwest Broadcasting. His reporting experience included state and local government, arts and culture, crime, and agriculture. He's a proud University of Idaho graduate with a bachelor's degree in Broadcasting and Digital Media. When he's not in the office, you can find James fly fishing, buffing up on his photography or watching the Seattle Mariners' latest rebuilding season.
KUER is listener-supported public radio. Support this work by making a donation today.