Increasing Number of Homeless People Being Arrested

In an article by The Oregonian as well as an analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive has shown that one in every two arrests made by the Portland Police Bureau last year was of a homeless person. In 2017, homeless people accounted for 52 percent of arrests, a number disproportionate to the homeless population, which makes up below 3 percent. The Oregonian states police arrested homeless people most often on property, drug or low-level crimes. 86 percent of arrests were for non-violent crimes, and more than 1,200 arrests were solely for offenses that are typically procedural -- missing court or violating probation or parole. This creates a cycle of criminalization, with 440 homeless people arrested last year being arrested more than 20 times since 1996. Together, they represent 20,000 arrests over time.

In an interview with Ted Wheeler on the issue, he states, "..This success and its resulting growth have come with some big-city problems, among them rising housing costs, concerns about safety, more litter and graffiti, and increased traffic congestion. More than anything else, I hear about the need to address our homeless crisis with clarity, consistency and compassion. In concert with my colleagues in Portland, Multnomah County and the Joint Office of Homeless Services, we've made record investments - driven by record business license revenues - on a compassionate and comprehensive approach to homelessness."

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Police Chief Danielle Outlaw have both said that being homeless is not a crime, yet this trend has continued into 2018, the percentage of arrests outpacing last year's within the first three months. In regards to these growing numbers, the ACLU has launched an investigation as to whether Portland police officers are profiling people who are homeless.

Violet Burell

August 18, 2018