Though police presented data regarding officially recorded contacts under the camping ban, we did not know how homeless people themselves experience this police contact (helpful or harassing?), nor did we know much about what exactly happens during those contacts. This survey project was designed to examine how homeless people themselves are experiencing their relationships with Denver police since the ban. Here is what the survey responses reveal. Survey responses show that contact with police is a way of life for Denver’s homeless. In the seven months since the camping ban was passed, 62% of respondents have been approached by police at least once, and most of those people were contacted several times. Chart 3.Frequency of Police Contact with the Homeless
The Denver Camping Ban
With these kinds of provisions written into the law, the Denver Police Department announced that police would enforce the camping ban only with a “light touch,” 31 and they expected few arrests. Rather than face arrest, homeless people would probably just move along when warned, or would be directed to needed services. "We are not looking at this to end up in citations or arrests," said Rob Parks, a homelessoutreach officer, while training other officers in ban enforcement techniques. "We think 99 percent of your contacts will end in the first five minutes."32 In fact, in their first reporting of data to Denver City Council, four months into the ban, the Police Department reported 158 street checks for unauthorized camping, impacting 386 people—but no arrests under the ban.33 Rather, almost all contacts with suspected campers ended with campers moving along after warning, or (in a few cases) with an arrest or citation for a different charge.
Since June of 2012, how many times have you been contacted by the police? Asked of all those--62%--who had been contacted by police at least once
12.2% 23.4%
One Time 2-5 Times
21.4%
6-10 times 43.1%
More than 10 Times
33