The Safer Kentucky Act is promoted as being tougher on crime. The provision dealing with homelessness continues to garner a lot of attention.
Northern Kentucky GOP Senator John Schickel, who spent a career in law enforcement and corrections, said the new law works to address crimes where consequences are lacking. The measure includes an unlawful camping statute to make it illegal to sleep outside or in cars in public areas. Schickel said there can be ramifications to this type of activity.
“We have people who are taking drugs, want to use drugs, won’t go to rehab and just think they can plop down anywhere and live. It’s disruptive to a community. It makes a city spiral down. It’s hard on businesses. It’s hard on residents,” said Schickel
While seeing a need for a tougher approach to various crimes, Schickel said he believes in innocence until proven guilty and competent defense.
The Safer Kentucky Act has been a topic of discussion at Lexington City Hall. Housing Advocacy and Community Development Commissioner Charlie Lanter says Lexington has invested a lot of time and resources in response to homelessness. Lanter said the new law will not be the first option for police.
“I don’t think people will see from a standpoint of mass incarceration or some of the really alarmist things that have been said, that we’re going to have large numbers of arrests and the jails are going to be full of homeless people. You’re just not going to see that,” said Lanter.
Lanter admits the situation may look different in some smaller rural communities that don’t have as many resources as Lexington has.
Tyler Scott, chief of staff in Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton’s office, said he and others at City Hall have been working for some time to understand what the law is and what it isn’t.
“At the end of the day we’re a compassionate city. We’re also a safe and law abiding city. We’re going to be in compliance with this law, but we’re going to do it in a very compassionate way,” said Scott.
Lexington officials say continuing to offer assistance will remain the first step. John Schickel said more consequences are needed. He says quality-of-life crimes like theft, using drugs in public, public intoxication, and indecent exposure carry an impact.
“These are all non-violent crimes that if we tolerate will make a neighborhood spiral down maybe faster than violent crime,” said Schickel
Schickel noted the intent was to give police more tools. As it relates to the homelessness issue, He said the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it is a constitutional approach.
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