HOMELESS INFORMATION

Homeless members of the Georgetown community will receive the same level and quality of service provided to other members of the community. The fact that a victim or witness is homeless can, however, require special considerations for a successful investigation and prosecution.

PROPERTY

The personal property of homeless persons will not be treated differently than the property of other members of the public. Reasonable care will be used when handling, collecting, and retaining the personal property of homeless persons.

When a homeless person is arrested, or otherwise removed from a public place, Georgetown PD will make reasonable accommodations to permit the person to lawfully secure his/her personal property. Otherwise, the personal property will be collected for safekeeping. If the arrestee has more personal property than can reasonably be collected and transported by an officer, a supervisor will be consulted.

ENCAMPMENTS 

Sometimes homeless encampments can impact the ecology and natural resources of the community and may involve criminal offenses beyond mere littering. Significant impacts to the environment may warrant a crime report, or investigation.

Per Texas Penal Code 48.05

(1) “Camp” means to reside temporarily in a place, with shelter.

(2) “Shelter” includes a tent, tarpaulin, lean-to, sleeping bag, bedroll, blankets, or any form of temporary, semipermanent, or permanent shelter, other than clothing or any handheld device, designed to protect a person from weather conditions that threaten personal health and safety.

(b) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly camps in a public place without the effective consent of the officer or agency having the legal duty or authority to manage the public place.

(c) The actor’s intent or knowledge may be established through evidence of activities associated with sustaining a living accommodation that are conducted in a public place, including:

(1) cooking              (4) digging

(2) making a fire      (5) sleeping

(3) storing personal belongings for an extended period

An offense under this section is a class C misdemeanor.

 ENCAMPMENT NOTICE 

When Georgetown Police Department is notified about an authorized encampment or violation of Tex. Pen. Code 48.05. A notice will be posted at the reported site. The notice will have the statements written below.

RESOURCES 

The date, time, location, and name of the posting member will be provided on the notification. Twenty-four hours after the posting a clean-up will be coordinated and initiated. The assumption will be made that all personal items of value were removed after the 24-hour notice was posted. Anything remaining at the site after notice will be disposed (thrown away). If an item of value is located, it will be collected for safe keeping for 30 days. Please see resource section regarding assistance with homelessness.