The Police Response to Homelessness

While the nature of homelessness has not changed very much, there has been a sea change in how law enforcement agencies respond to it. Approximately 250 law enforcement leaders, local government officials, researchers, and other subject matter experts convened in Long Beach, CA on January 24, 2018 for a day-long PERF conference on homelessness. Today, many law enforcement agencies are implementing direct outreach to homeless individuals, building partnerships with a wide range of service providers, and encouraging their officers and deputies to be resourceful and to show compassion for homeless persons. This report showcases many of the promising practices that were discussed at PERF’s conference in Long Beach.

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Author: PERF

Publication Date: June 2018