DULUTH — Officials here are poised to ratchet up the city’s response to homeless and other types of encampments, with a proposal to make sleeping on city property a misdemeanor crime.
Mayor Roger Reinert and other city leaders announced 10 proposed ordinance changes Tuesday that will soon go before the City Council, each addressing offenses, including burning, graffiti and property damage, cited as the biggest complaint drivers in the city.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled late last month that fining or jailing people for breaking anti-camping ordinances when there is no shelter available does not violate the Constitution. The decision gives local governments the license to cite and possibly arrest people in homeless encampments or other public spaces.
Reinert said citations aren’t as effective as misdemeanor charges in dealing with certain crimes. Misdemeanors offer alternatives to a fine, such as diversionary and restitution-type programs in lieu of jail time and a marred record. Those programs can help channel those experiencing homelessness to resources, he said.
The Sixth Judicial Court in Duluth recently began a specialty court that hears misdemeanor charges in an effort to stabilize those committing lower-level crimes.
“We want to hold people accountable for their choices and their behaviors, but we in Duluth prioritize connection and diversion,” Reinert said.