Loitering, Vagrancy and Curfew

Loitering and vagrancy are offenses of being in public places in ways the law has treated as suspicious or idle. Loitering is remaining in the same place or area for no apparent reason, and its time and place limits differ by state, with some statutes tied to drug offenses, trespass or gang activity, and some struck down as unconstitutionally vague. Vagrancy is roaming from place to place without a permanent job, home or material resources. Many vagrancy statutes have been declared invalid for vagueness, as in Papachristou v. City of Jacksonville, although in June 2024 the Supreme Court in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson upheld an ordinance banning homeless people from sleeping outdoors.