Nuisance Ordinances: How They Work, Who They Harm, and How To Fight Them
Published by: Sandra Park, J.D.; Linda Morris, J.D.
Nuisance ordinances – which impose civil and criminal penalties on residents for seeking police or emergency medical assistance – purport to discourage crime and promote safety and quality of life within communities. However, recent advocacy and research have revealed that these laws and policies have the opposite effect. These policies discourage residents from reporting and seeking emergency assistance for crimes, including incidents of domestic violence, and compromise the safety of survivors. Nuisance ordinances also have been used in targeted enforcement efforts against communities of color. This webinar provides an overview of how nuisance ordinances jeopardize housing for survivors of gender-based violence, and provides tools to combat these harmful laws.