On Friday, the Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that blocked an Oregon city from imposing fines to penalize homeless people for camping out on public property, even when they lack other places to go.
In a 6-3 decision that broke down along ideological lines, the high court determined that the fines levied by Grants Pass do not trample upon the rights outlined in the Eighth Amendment, which protects against excessive bail, excessive fines, or “cruel and unusual punishments.”
During oral arguments in April, the high court signaled that it would allow the policy.