Police Convicted Criminals Can Be Banned From Strip | BLOGGING USA AFFAIRS

Police Convicted Criminals Can Be Banned From Strip

Source: RJ Espanol

BLOGGING USA AFFAIRS: Those convicted of a crime and ordered by the courts to avoid the Strip and its surrounding commercial areas may face a misdemeanor arrest for breaking the rule.

The expanded "order out corridor" ordinance, which the Clark County Commission unanimously approved Tuesday, replaces the current stay-out zones, which only apply to those convicted of prostitution or drug-related activities. According to the new ordinance, which is expected to be implemented later this year, they will now include all crimes, as approved on Tuesday.

"This ordinance adds another layer of protection to the corridor," said commission Chairman Jim Gibson after the vote. "It gives the court another tool to help us give them a chance to clean up (an offender's) life if that's what it takes."

Source: RJ Espanol

Simultaneously, Gibson stated that the law "liberates the entire (Las Vegas) Boulevard from the influence of people who commit crimes over and over again." So, our hope is that the order-out provision will be one of those incentives, or at least a motivator, for people to stop committing crimes on the boulevard."

According to the ordinance, while Las Vegas Justice Court judges can currently issue a stay-out order for prostitution or drug offenses at their discretion, the new law extends those powers to all Clark County courts.

The courts could only issue a stay-out order under the new ordinance if the person was convicted of a crime, which is typically handed down as a condition of supervised release, and the person would have to be in violation of the order to be arrested.

The commission stated that exceptions can be made for people who conduct essential business on the corridor, such as work, worship, or even something as simple as taking public transportation to the area.

"This follows an increase in disorder in the Strip corridor shortly after reopening post-COVID and stimulus money hitting people's pockets," the sheriff told the Review-Journal. "We had a significant change in demographics in the Strip corridor, which was associated with increased crime."

According to Metro statistics, the 12,123 crimes reported this year by the Metropolitan Police Department's Convention Center Area Command, which patrols the Strip and its surrounding areas, were up 16 percent from the same time period in 2021.

According to the statistics, the figure is being driven by a 46.1 percent increase in property crimes. Crimes against people were down 10.5 percent, and "society" crimes, such as weapons, prostitution, and drug violations, were down about 7 percent.

According to Lombardo, the Strip is experiencing a "significant issue" with the pedestrian bridges.

"We brought all the players on the Strip together — the law enforcement and security communities — and asked, 'What can we do to address the specific issues associated with the Strip, our mother's milk of our economy?'"

To combat a recent outbreak of violence on the Fremont Street Experience, the Las Vegas City Council, police, and private security implemented new measures such as a curfew for unaccompanied minors under the age of 21, increased police patrols, and bag and metal detector checks.

Metro reported no reports of violent crime in mid-July after the efforts went into effect the first weekend.

During the commission meeting, there was no opposition to the new ordinance, and Deputy County Manager Jeffrey Wells addressed concerns that the law would harm street performers' livelihoods by explaining that the law would not change the current laws governing sidewalks and bridges.

"Whatever they can do legally today, they will be able to do legally after this," he said.

Gibson estimated that the law would take three months to take effect.

"We need to do everything we can to maintain not only the safety along the boulevard but also the perception among visitors that this is a safe place," he said.