Abandoned or Unattended? The Outer Limit of Fourth Amendment Protection for Homeless Persons’ Property

Authors

Tim Donaldson

Abstract

Homelessness in America has become an epidemic problem. Homeless encampments can be found in public areas of almost every major city, and the resulting accumulation of waste, debris, and other items in those areas presents public health and safety concerns. Many cities have responded to those challenges by periodically clearing or cleaning campsites and must determine, often among tons of materials, what may be collected and discarded. This article reviews the constitutional treatment of abandoned property versus unabandoned property. It proposes guidelines for determining when unattended property left in public areas by homeless persons may be considered abandoned and beyond the scope of the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable seizures.

Recommended Citation

Tim Donaldson, Abandoned or Unattended? The Outer Limit of Fourth Amendment Protection for Homeless Persons’ Property, 46 Hastings Const. L.Q. 793 (2019).
Available at: https://repository.uclawsf.edu/hastings_constitutional_law_quaterly/vol46/iss4/3