COVID-19: Guidance for Stay-at-Home and Social Distancing Enforcement

Overview

In response to COVID-19, almost every state has issued some form of stay-at-home or social distancing order. Though police are responsible for enforcing these orders, the guidance on how to do so is often unclear, and in some cases, the rules themselves even conflict.

This document, vetted with community organizers, academic experts, and law enforcement officials, compiles best practices for state, municipal, and policing leaders as they draft and enforce these orders.

Key TakeAways

1). Orders must be clear and specific to give notice about what they mean to the public and police.  Anything less may violate Due Process rights.  

2). Police should aim for voluntary compliance and avoid the use of citations or custodial arrests absent imminent public safety threats. 

3). Police must collect and publish enforcement data - including demographic data - and actively avoid discriminatory enforcement.  

Related Work