vagrancy | Definition

In the UCR, vagrancy refers to a crime category that includes offenses related to being homeless, unemployed, or engaging in activities such as begging or loitering in public places.

Vagrancy offenses may include sleeping in public places, panhandling, or loitering in a way that is deemed suspicious or threatening. Vagrancy laws have been controversial due to concerns about their impact on the homeless population and their potential to be used to target marginalized groups. However, many states and municipalities still have laws related to vagrancy and related offenses.

The FBI stopped collecting data on vagrancy offenses in the UCR in 1980.