One of the negative stigmas around the homeless population is one of danger, theft, and/or violence.
Despite the negative stigma, very few verified sources appear to corroborate the idea that homeless individuals are more likely to commit violent crimes than non-homeless individuals.
According to a 2018 University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center study looking at the criminal and housing histories of 255 homeless individuals over the course of two years, only offenses related directly to homelessness, such as loitering, vagrancy, and trespassing, were seen at an increased rate in the homeless population.
This was corroborated by multiple other studies, including a study published in the American Psychiatric Publishing journal in 2006 that compared types of arrests of homeless and non-homeless population in Baltimore. A 2008 New York University study also found similar results.
Rather a more commonly found statistic found in studies on this topic was the greater likelihood of homeless individuals to be the victims OF violent crimes.
Several articles from the National Alliance to End Homelessness looked at studies on this topic and found an increased risk of victimization in violent or other crimes in the homeless population.
The organization also discussed an major issue in developing affordable housing and shelters due to the negative stigma of "dangerous homeless people" pushing potential developments out of some key areas.
The South Carolina Interagency Council on Homelessness’s 2022 State of Homelessness report also found that, of those incarcerated, those released to community supervision saw an up to 50 percent decrease in re-incarceration, and a separate 28 percent decrease was found for those who learned a trade or earned their GED while incarcerated.
Another issue found
I reached out to the Greenville Police Department for comment on the topic but did not receive I response. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office also denied an interview request due to concerns of an inability for them to remain unbiased.
