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No Public Camping Ordinance Yields Results in First Year

In October 2024, the no public camping ordinance went into effect, banning camping and sleeping on public property. Since the ordinance took effect, District 1 patrol officers have been out every day enforcing that ban while offering resources to those in need.


Since the ordinance started:
  • Downtown crime is down 14%, and crimes against people dropped 22%.
  • 400+ arrests under the camping ban, but enforcement isn’t the mission - helping people is the mission. 
  • 550+ unhoused individuals reunited with family through Homeward Bound
Homeward Bound is a program that helps a homeless person return to family in another city. It’s a one-way ticket home, often the same day, and it doesn’t cost the person or the taxpayer anything. It’s fully paid for using funds from criminal seizures.

The members of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) comply with the state and local rules to make sure everyone has a safer and healthier place to live, work and visit.

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