Model General Police Order

Handling Interactions with Homeless Persons

This general model police order on Handling Interactions with Homeless Persons is intended as a generic model for police departments looking to adopt responsible guidance governing officers' interaction with individuals experiencing homelessness. 

NLCHP strongly recommends that any community adopting this or any similar Order do so in conjunction with a program of ongoing police trainings regarding the social problem of homelessness, as well as a commitment to coordination and partnership with local homelessness service providers to provide constructive alternatives to criminalization. 

We gratefully acknowledge the Fort Lauderdale Police Department for their commendable work developing Policy 511, a major influence on this model order.

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