The Louisiana Legislature enacted House Bill 211, known as “Streets to Success,” which establishes criminal penalties for homeless people and allows for the establishment of Homeless Courts and public camping grounds.
A Homeless Court can be established by the Caddo District Court judges. The court will administer a probation program for individuals screened by the District Attorney in cases where a homeless defendant is charged with a misdemeanor or felony violation and the DA believes that treatment over incarceration would best serve the community.
People selected for the Homeless Court will be confined in a treatment facility or released on supervised probation for not less than 12 months, participating in court-ordered alcohol and drug programs as well as other conditions imposed by the court.
Completion of the Homeless Court program will result in the dismissal of the criminal charges against the participant.
Establishing a Homeless Court will necessitate cooperation from the Caddo District Attorney and the parish probation office and it create additional demand for adequate treatment programs, all of which will require funding not provided by the bill.
This bill also created the crime of unauthorized camping on public property. This crime is defined as the intentional use of any tent, shelter, or bedding constructed for overnight use on public property that is not a designated camping ground.
The Shreveport City Council or the Caddo Commission can designate property it owns to be used as a public camping ground and in such event, minimum standards must be established and enforced for the public camping grounds.
Critics of this bill aster that more harm than good will be imposed on the most vulnerable by imposing financial and legal burdens on the homeless population.
Advocates suggest that this legislation may move homeless people out of urban centers like downtown Shreveport into more rural areas and that governing bodies can provide for this population by providing homeless public campaign area that can be regulated for health and safety of the occupants and surrounding citizens.
Needless to say the politics of establishing a Homeless Court, and especially homeless public camping grounds, are controversial, particularly with the fall elections for District Attorney, District Judges, Shreveport City Council and next years’ Caddo Commission elections.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.