San Diego’s Homeless Court Program helps people experiencing homelessness resolve eligible misdemeanors, infractions, and City of San Diego parking citations, and the way in is usually a referral from a homeless-service agency. The City of San Diego says participation “typically requires a referral from a local homeless-service agency that already makes referrals to the program.”

What the program covers

The City’s page says the program helps people address “a full range of misdemeanor offenses, infractions and City of San Diego parking citations,” but lists exceptions: “offenses for domestic violence, drug court, Proposition 36, and felonies.” In a March 2022 release, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office described the Homeless Court as one that “helps clear warrants, dismiss charges, and eliminate fines for individuals who are already engaging in services with homeless service providers.”

How a case gets referred

The referral usually comes from the service side. Someone already working with a shelter, treatment program, or other homeless-service agency can ask whether it is one that makes Homeless Court referrals. Someone not yet connected to services would start there; the City’s page points people experiencing homelessness to 2-1-1 San Diego, and it links to the program’s own website.

Prosecutors take part. The City Attorney’s Office lists Homeless Court among the collaborative courts its criminal division oversees, and the City’s rules for the Clean Plates program (below) refer to the City Attorney and District Attorney disqualifying participants from the Homeless Court Program.

Monthly resource fairs

The District Attorney’s CARE Center, the Public Defender, the City Attorney, the Superior Court, and the Department of HHSA-Homeless Solutions organize resource fairs for unhoused people. According to the District Attorney’s Office, these “Same Day Solutions” fairs, also called Homeless Court Resource Fairs, are pop-up events held monthly at rotating locations around the county, offering services such as substance use rehabilitation programs, birth certificate help, and DMV services. The office says “Homeless Court and its justice partners are available to help participants overcome barriers to accessing these resources.”

A separate option for parking citations

Clean Plates is a partnership of the City Treasurer’s Office, the City Attorney’s Office, the County Public Defender’s Office, and the San Diego Homeless Court Steering Committee for people experiencing homelessness who owe City of San Diego parking citations. The City’s page says applicants must submit all required information to the Public Defender’s Office before each month’s deadline, and the Public Defender then submits it to the City for review. Listed requirements include:

  • parking citations issued by the City of San Diego;
  • no earlier participation in Clean Plates;
  • being “a client of an official Homeless Court Program Service Provider” who has “completed or substantially completed a recovery program”; and
  • not having been otherwise disqualified from the Homeless Court Program by the City Attorney or District Attorney.

Practical next steps

  • Confirm the matter is a misdemeanor, infraction, or City of San Diego parking citation, and not a domestic violence, drug court, Proposition 36, or felony case.
  • Ask a current service provider whether it makes Homeless Court referrals, or start with 2-1-1 San Diego if not yet connected to services.
  • Ask the District Attorney’s CARE Center when and where the next monthly resource fair will be held.
  • For City parking citations, ask the Public Defender’s Office about Clean Plates before that month’s deadline.
  • If there is an open warrant or a pending case, ask defense counsel whether it can be brought to Homeless Court.

The Law Offices of David S. Chesley can help confirm whether a San Diego County matter fits the program; our homeless courts overview covers the general concept. Call (800) 755-5174 to discuss the case.