A U.S. report from National Public Radio explains that new local laws, which criminalize people who are unhoused, are supported by local law enforcement in Northern Nevada. The public perception, based on such stories, would seem to suggest that local law enforcement has evaluated the benefit of criminalizing the unhoused occupying public and found it not only legal but suitably appropriate.
But wait a second here. These reports from local law enforcement agencies are being offered up as a considered evaluation of decisions made by their political masters. Is there possibly an amount of ‘yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir’ support for those who hire/fire/issue paychecks to the law enforcement agencies in question? They might be understandably concerned for their jobs, which could be best expressed by a little kiss-ass.
Could it be that local law enforcement is not enamoured with arresting/fining penniless people who are unhoused, only to ‘rinse and repeat’ the process with the same penniless villains the next day and the next and the next?
A hint of another reality can be found as the U.S. Supreme Court examines issues related to the rights of people who are homeless and have no choice to reside upon public land.
The Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP) is a national group of former law enforcement officers. LEAP has no reason to suck up to local employers and can freely offer their opinions. They have co-signed a friend-of-the-court brief in the pending U.S. Supreme Court case.
For LEAPs opinion on the validity of criminalizing the unhoused, read more at KNUR: Criminal penalties put unhoused people at risk, former law enforcement officials say
