Condemned to Break the Law

Homelessness is a widespread issue that impacts the lives of thousands and motivates the actions of various governmental entities. In “Condemned to Break the Law: The Legality and Fairness of Anti-Camping Laws in Response to the Homelessness Crisis,” I argue that governments have an obligation to make laws that can be reasonably followed. The analysis of obligation incorporates concepts of penological purpose and the capacity to follow the law. These philosophical measurements are applied to the Supreme Court’s decision to permit anti-camping laws in Grants Pass v. Johnson 603 US ___ (2024) to situate these concepts in a real-world context.