When is being homeless against the law in Sonoma County?

CrimeBeat Q&A is a weekly feature where police reporter Julie Johnson answers readers’ questions about local crimes and the law.

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Is it legal for homeless individuals to sleep in city parks, on private property without permission, such as doorways, or in public locations like downtown? Especially with the wet weather, there are more elaborate encampments, tents and other temporary shelters being installed at night in the downtown area. All these things have become commonplace in downtown Santa Rosa, but are they legal?

Gavin Chilcott, Santa Rosa

Sleeping in public is legal, but there are exceptions. A person - homeless or not - can roll out a picnic blanket and take a rest in Old Courthouse Square. The activity becomes unlawful if camping equipment is involved or if the person blocks a sidewalk.

Santa Rosa city ordinances prohibit camping, public urination and camping on private property without the owner’s permission, such as business entryways. These are considered infractions, which could generate a citation and fine but generally not an arrest.

But handing out citations isn’t always the best strategy, said Santa Rosa Police Sgt. Ryan Corcoran, who oversees the downtown team. Officers responding to complaints about people loitering or sleeping downtown often talk the person into leaving rather than issuing a citation, he said. Officers have lists of resources for people if they’re interested in moving to a shelter, and they are involved in a countywide effort to help homeless people find housing.

“We’re not arresting homeless people for violations related to homelessness,” Corcoran said. “And we’re not typically citing people that are simply trying to get out of the weather.”

However, there are other types of misdemeanor crimes that often lead to downtown arrests such as trespassing, drug or alcohol use or probation violations, the sergeant said.

“The majority of the time when we come across people that are camping, they’re warned and encouraged to seek services and find a place to stay,” Corcoran said. “The long-term goal is to get people housed.”

Corcoran said he encourages people to contact the Santa Rosa Homeless Outreach Services Team, commonly called HOST and run by Catholic Charities, for concerns about unsheltered homeless people. The HOST program can be reached at 855-707-HOST or 855-707-4678.

Submit your questions about crime, safety and criminal justice to Staff Writer Julie Johnson at julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.