Denver still has a fairly large population of unhoused street homeless. For hears they have been arrested ("Swept") and al their possessions taken without notice. The problem became so severe when they were deprived of all shelter and gear when it was well below freezing that Occupy Denver and Denver Homeless Outloud initiated and won class action lawsuit, Lyall et al, to stop this practice. It now requires the police to give 48 hours to an individual and 7 days to a group that they will be arrested and robbed. They re also to be given written notice of a location to retrieve their possessions. DPD have been ignoring this law and still arrest people with no notice, keeping them fearful, out of reach of helping organizations and unable to plan to obtain jobs. Many are hampered by not having identification to take advantage of helping programs because their ID was stolen (confiscated). It is not only inhumane as the judge ruled, but clearly a violation of their rights and a stumbling block to their plans to get off the streets.
Demand that DPD follow the restrictions imposed by Lyall et al and stop arresting people at whim and destroying their possessions. Also, when they are due to be released from jail, they are required to pay a substantial fine, which is impossible for them to achieve. When we established our nation, we expressly forbid debtors' prisons, but Denver is running one for the homeless. This needs to be stopped now.
Pleas sign to support our call for justice for these people who already have a difficult time trying to survive without shelter, food, water, etc.
