It appears that Paterson, NJ, is attempting to reconstitute vagrancy laws. These laws were pretty well shot in the head in 1972’s SCOTUS’s decision - Papachristou v. Jacksonville. Prior to this decision the abuse of vagrancy laws by the police throughout the United States was common. Such laws were vague and undefined, allowing police to arrest persons merely on the suspicion they were about to do something illegal.
People were going to jail just for being there. “Diddling around in a no diddling zone”.
I remember spending a few moments with the Rangers, during those hours, and the things I learned were golden. I guess if they get around to doing what they have in mind here, I can bless them with the benefits of my memory. The benediction is to die for.
It appears that Paterson, NJ, is attempting to reconstitute vagrancy laws. These laws were pretty well shot in the head in 1972’s SCOTUS’s decision - Papachristou v. Jacksonville. Prior to this decision the abuse of vagrancy laws by the police throughout the United States was common. Such laws were vague and undefined, allowing police to arrest persons merely on the suspicion they were about to do something illegal.
ReplyDeletePeople were going to jail just for being there. “Diddling around in a no diddling zone”.
The enforcement of such a "law" would be an act of war.
ReplyDeleteI remember spending a few moments with the Rangers, during those hours, and the things I learned were golden. I guess if they get around to doing what they have in mind here, I can bless them with the benefits of my memory. The benediction is to die for.
ReplyDelete