Louisville Police Cite Homeless Woman in Labor Under New Anti-Camping Law

Body camera footage shows officers citing a pregnant woman for unlawful camping as she reported going into labor, sparking criticism of Kentucky's new homelessness policies.

A homeless pregnant woman in Louisville was cited by police for unlawful camping while claiming she was in labor under an overpass in September 2024.
The woman, who did not have a phone, told officers her water had broken and her husband was trying to call for an ambulance; the officers eventually called EMS themselves.
Body camera footage captured an officer expressing doubt about the woman’s labor claim, though she gave birth later that day and is now in a shelter with her child.
The citation was issued under Kentucky's new anti-camping law, which criminalizes sleeping or camping on public property and has faced criticism from homelessness advocates.
Advocates argue that such laws exacerbate homelessness by penalizing unhoused individuals instead of addressing systemic causes like lack of affordable housing.