Marshals say enforcement at Dallas encampments largely for paraphernalia; council presses for sustained closures
Summary
City marshals told the Public Safety Committee their enforcement at homeless encampments typically targets possession and paraphernalia offenses, not criminal trespass, and described decommissioning as a team approach; council members requested mapping and sustained strategies for entrenched sites.
David Pugh of the City Marshals told the Public Safety Committee on April 14 that enforcement actions taken during street‑response work and encampment visits are generally related to lower‑level offenses such as possession of drug paraphernalia rather than criminal trespass, and that arrests for trespass on private property are not typical in the street‑response context.
When asked whether enforcement often involves criminal trespass or refusal to leave private property, Pugh said the majority of enforcement actions in the monthly figures relate to paraphernalia and similar offenses, and that criminal trespass arrests are generally not part of the street‑response approach unless a private complainant requests charges. "It's the majority month after month. It's around lesser type deals with possession of drug paraphernalia," Pugh said.
Pugh and other staff described decommissioning encampments as a cooperative, ongoing effort that involves marshals, street‑response teams and partner agencies. They said keeping sites closed can require repeated follow‑up and that the city is exploring technology and environmental interventions to make closures more sustainable.
Council Member Stewart and others pressed for a map of entrenched encampments and asked for sustained strategies for sites that repeatedly repopulate. Stewart said in her district there are approximately eight persistent locations and that the city needs a long‑term approach for sites that do not accept services.
Staff said a comprehensive report on team responses to encampments is in progress and that new messaging and revised job expectations for teams will be coming soon. Council members asked that marshals and street‑response teams coordinate with community groups and neighborhood stakeholders on follow‑up efforts.
