Police propose court-ordered "Stay Out of Designated Area" zones to address drug-related activity

Police presented a proposed Stay Out of Designated Area (SOTA) ordinance that would authorize courts to issue orders banning individuals with drug-related charges or convictions from entering specified geographic zones.

Chief Tony Slowick said the proposal responds to repeated requests from businesses and residents about concentrated illegal drug activity in the South Central business district. He described the SOTA order as a court-issued restriction that would prevent a person with a drug-related charge or conviction from entering a defined zone; a violation would be a separate criminal offense enforceable by arrest.

"A Stay Out of Designated Area court order is the creation of a new court order... The SOTA order is a restriction that prohibits a person with a drug related criminal charge or conviction from entering a specific geographical zone," Slowick said.

Data presented: The police department provided a two-year comparison for a South Barlow Street area showing calls for service rising from 27 (earlier period) to 419 (later period) within the geographic area examined; staff said 151 incidents were confirmed drug activity and 57 incidents were specific to Southwest Barlow Street. In a quarter-mile radius staff reported 29 CPR calls and 55 suspected overdoses, and noted 65% of suspected overdoses occurred within that area. Slowick said the city would propose a boundary based on that kind of data.

Process and safeguards: Slowick explained that judges would impose SOTA orders as conditions of release, sentence or probation after hearing both prosecution and defense; judges could modify orders to allow necessary activities (for example, a court-ordered modification to permit attendance at a medical appointment). The order would be enforced by police verifying active orders and arresting violators.

Council questions and concerns: Council members asked whether the orders simply displace activity, how names or lists of barred persons would be shared with businesses, whether pharmacies or other essential services would be excluded, and about camera systems and evidence collection. Staff said the boundaries would be data-driven, that courts can modify orders for needed services, and that the city is exploring grants for camera systems but cautioned about public-records and privacy considerations.

"This allows the courts to deal with those individuals that are repeat offenders, and causing problems... the hope is that it pushes them towards rehabilitation," Slowick said. The city prosecutor and courts in nearby jurisdictions using similar tools have reported SOTA ordinances as useful, Slowick added.

Ending: Council indicated interest in the tool and in ensuring pharmacies and essential services remain accessible; staff said they will return with a data-backed boundary recommendation and further legal language for council review.