2022-005 Denton Police Department Homeless Outreach Team Drop ProgramJanuary 14, 2022 Report No. 2022-005
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Denton Police Department Homeless Outreach Team Drop Program
BACKGROUND: Since January 12, 2021, the Denton Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) received technical assistance from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC). HOT contacted CRI-TAC in 2020 and requested assistance to enhance and expand the newly formed team. Through
the initiative, HOT has received mentoring from a subject matter expert, Homeless Outreach Team
Officer Nate Schwiethale with the City of Wichita, Kansas Police Department, on best practices and opportunities for service improvement. He introduced HOT to the Drop Program, a jail diversion program, utilized by the Wichita Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team, which creates an incentive for unhoused individuals to engage in services with the opportunity to drop
their citations. HOT has collaborated with the Denton Municipal Court to implement the Drop
Program in our community.
DISCUSSION:
Impact of Citations on Persons Experiencing Homelessness Individuals experiencing homelessness tend to encounter many barriers to getting housed and
stable. A common barrier includes tickets issued for minor infractions such as pedestrian, quality-of-life, and moving violations. Tickets range in cost and can often exceed $300 once court fees are added. For people without income, employment, and housing, this often creates a continuous cycle. Unpaid citations or failure to appear in court can lead to the issuance of a warrant. An individual
who is unable to pay the citation or does not have the means to make it to the municipal court
could end up being repeatedly ticketed and arrested for minor infractions, leading to growing fines and warrants. This in turn creates a roadblock to accessing housing, services, and employment. DPD HOT interacts daily with unhoused individuals who have a seemingly insurmountable
problem with tickets and warrants. For some, it is discouraging to even try to engage in services
due to the inability to resolve their tickets or the knowledge, from experience, that they will not qualify for certain programs until their warrants have been handled. HOT has worked with the Denton Municipal Court to get citations dropped for individuals ready to engage in services. Other individuals, who might be discouraged from past attempts or resignation, could potentially be
motivated to try once again to engage in services if a solution is offered for their citation(s) to be
dropped.
DPD Drop Program On January 11, 2022, the HOT Drop Program was rolled out to the Department. When patrol
officers must take enforcement action and write a citation to someone they know to be unhoused,
they will notify that person an opportunity exists for them to have the citation dropped if they
contact HOT. If contacted, HOT will work with the individual to create a customized plan
containing specific and achievable goals to complete within an approximate two-week window.
January 14, 2022 Report No. 2022-004
The plan must be customized as individuals have unique and sometimes complex situations that
led to them being homeless. It may include enrollment in a program with a local service provider
or engaging in services with the mental health authority or a substance abuse program. The
individual will work with the HOT Stability Caseworker during that time, to ensure they have the
needed support to be successful. Upon completion of the plan and compliance with the terms of
the agreement, the Drop form, an agreement for dismissal of charges, will be submitted to the City
Prosecutor.
HOT has implemented the Drop Program with the goal of diverting vulnerable individuals from
jail and increasing the participation of individuals experiencing homelessness in local programs
and services. The program seeks to help people in our community make positive progress towards
self-sufficiency, getting housed, and reducing their contact with police. It is one of many efforts
of HOT to provide more comprehensive assistance to those in need.
ATTACHMENTS: Homeless Outreach Team Agreement for Dismissal of Charges
STAFF CONTACT: Sergeant Elisa Howell, Police Department Mental Health Division
REQUESTOR: Staff Initiated
PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS:
Denton Police Department, Municipal Court
STAFF TIME TO COMPLETE REPORT: 2 Hours
Department of Police
601 E. Hickory, St., Suite E • Denton, TX 76205 • (940) 349-8181 • FAX (940) 349-7966
OUR CORE VALUES Integrity Fiscal Responsibility Transparency Outstanding Customer Service
ADA/EOE/ADEA www.cityofdenton.com TDD (800) 735-2989
NAME: ____________________________ DATE: ____________________________
DOB: ____________________________ CFS NO: ____________________________
Homeless Outreach Team Agreement for Dismissal of Charges
I, ______________________________________________, am the named defendant in the above captioned case. I am requesting that the charge(s) of ____________________________________
be dismissed. I understand that in exchange for the dismissal of the charges, that I agree, to the best
of my ability, to follow and complete an individualized plan of action as requested by the Denton Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team (HOT). I hereby stipulate and agree to the following:
1. At the time of the issuance of this citation or criminal charge, I am without residential
housing in the City of Denton.
2. I agree to work with the Denton Police Department’s HOT, to regain housing for myself
through organizations such as Giving Hope, Inc., and other local service providers.
3. I agree to use the resources provided to me by the Denton Police Department’s HOT
for assistance in resume building and job referral to successfully regain employment.
4. I agree to successfully complete any inpatient and/or outpatient substance abuse
program that may be referred to me by the Denton Police Department’s HOT.
5. I agree to successfully complete any inpatient and/or outpatient mental health program
as may be referred to me by the Denton Police Department’s HOT.
6. I agree to remain in contact with the Homeless Outreach Team and provide updates of
my progress in meeting these goals.
7. I understand and agree that if I fail to comply with the terms of this agreement or receive
additional criminal charges that the City Prosecutor may, in their discretion, reinstate
the criminal charges against me.
______________________________________ ______________________________________ Defendant City Prosecutor
__________________________________________ _______________________________________ Officer/Homeless Outreach Team Supervisor/Homeless Outreach Team