SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah is warning that there could be violations of the U.S. Constitution in Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder’s sweeping proposal to manage the downtown Salt Lake City homeless population that includes a campground and crackdown on panhandling.
Winder’s 21-point plan announced last week would bring the population at Road Home shelter from about 1,100 to 200 by June 1. He suggests people undergo searches and criminal background checks before they are allowed to stay at Road Home and to find a way for panhandlers to receive help online. Winder is also looking to establish an “urban campsite” at a nearby intersection and allow officers with patrol cars equipped with license plate readers to stop cars connected to crimes in the area.
He said he hopes his plan will reduce crime in the neighborhood where the shelter is located.
“I’m tired of people saying there is no way to get a handle on this,” Winder said last week. “Enough committees … It’s spring 2017 - let’s do something.”
ACLU of Utah spokeswoman Anna Thomas said the organization believes Winder’s plan will do nothing to resolve underlying causes of homelessness and addiction.
In a statement, the ACLU of Utah said Winder’s plan goes against amendments such as the First, Eighth, Fourth and 14th.
“Reducing substantive access to emergency shelter beds will likely strengthen Eighth Amendment claims against anti-camping ordinances and other laws at a people experiencing homelessness,” the ACLU of Utah said in a statement.
Panhandling is protected by the First Amendment, according to the organization.
The ACLU’s statement warns the sheriff that his current proposal could bring costly litigation to the city.
Winder’s plan has received support from Pioneer Park Coalition, a group of public and private partners that are working to revitalize the area.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.