City Of Bismarck: Shelves Jail Time For Homeless Camping

Homeless People Behind Bars

Is this something we really wanted in Bismarck? What about compassion and empathy for those down on their luck, or is this something we need to do to avoid a potentially dangerous situation?. Then, there's the whole adding to an already crowded jail situation in Burleigh County.

Thanks to the state's prison system facing severe overcrowding, Bismarck's Burleigh/Morton County Detention Center is already managing a surge in inmate numbers. According to the North Dakota Monitor, by taking on overflow from the North Dakota State Penitentiary.

The City of Bismarck Was Weighing its Options

According to an article from the Bismarck Tribune, the city was considering changes to its homeless camping ordinance that would add a mandatory minimum jail sentence. "It would also make it illegal for property owners to help someone camp on public property and allow law enforcement to remove homeless camps without notice."

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The City Commissioners of Bismarck already have an ordinance against homeless camps that went into effect back in 2024, but proposed violations could land you in jail. Opponents of the law argued this would criminalize homelessness.

Both the Mayor of Bismarck, Mike Schmitz, and the Police Chief Jason Stugelmeyer said the proposed changes were meant to target repeat offenders.

Proposed Jail Sentences

The proposed mandatory minimum jail sentences are as follows:

1. No less than four consecutive days' imprisonment for a second offense within one year.

2. No less than seven consecutive days' imprisonment for a third offense within one year.

3. No less than 15 days' imprisonment for a fourth offense within one year.

City Commision Pulls the Plug

After Tuesday's City Commission Meeting, after hearing from residents and homeless advocates, city commissioners have decided to pull the plug on jail sentences for homeless campers, according to The Dakotan.

The Mayor of Bismarck did go on to say the city still needs to find a path going forward to fix the problem of homeless camping. What do you think? Did the city commission get it right shutting down jail time for homeless campers?  Let us know in the comments on our Facebook page.