Charlotte: Few Arrests Since Reinstating ‘Quality of Life’ Penalties, but Residents See Improvement

Few arrests since Charlotte reinstated ‘quality of life’ penalties, but residents see improvement

By HERE News

It’s been nearly three months since Charlotte reinstated criminal penalties for many quality-of-life infractions. Some uptown residents complained that dropping them emboldened people without homes to openly defecate and drink alcohol in parks. The hope was the threat of arrest would reduce those behaviors. The fear was that it would criminalize poverty and lead to many arrests. So far uptown residents say things have improved, while it appears there haven’t been many arrests.

Residents Notice Improvement

Minhie Davis and her family live in an apartment overlooking Fourth Ward Park. She watched as her husband and son kicked a soccer ball at the park. Davis wasn’t sure reinstating criminal penalties was the way to stop people from urinating and defecating openly in uptown. It seemed harsh. But she’s said she has seen a change since they went into effect on March 1.

“It’s been less and less in the last few weeks. It was a little bit more prominent when we moved here a few years ago,” Davis said. “So, I can say that has definitely decreased.”

Push for Reinstatement

Friends of Fourth Ward pushed the city council to reinstate the penalties. The group’s president Lee Ann Roughton said citations alone weren’t deterring behavior like drinking alcohol in parks, but the threat of arrest has helped.

Police Approach and Enforcement

That’s what CMPD leaders say officers do — ask people to comply. Arresting someone, they say, is a last resort. CMPD spokesperson Sandy D’Elosua said the department doesn’t track enforcement by ordinance. But she said in late April, the central division, which includes uptown, recalled making only one arrest for a violation of one of those six reinstated ordinances — a woman openly defecating.

Residents and Homelessness

Terrance Mcgathy laid on a boulder in First Ward Park. Next to him was his wheelchair — stacked with his belongings. “The police don’t bother me,” Mcgathy said. “I’m not messing with them; they don’t need to bother me.” Mcgathy has been residing in parks around uptown. He said officers had stopped him, mostly to check up on his well-being.

Long-Term Solutions

The city has added portable restrooms in uptown. Roof Above operates a shelter program and connects people with housing and care. The group’s CEO, Liz Clasen-Kelly, said adding restrooms helps, but long-term solutions are needed.

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