Think twice before you lie down in St. Petersburg, Florida public park. Or before you ask for a quarter. Or stow your personal belongings in a public area. Why, you ask? You just might land behind bars.

City officials in St. Petersburg have taken the unfortunate approach of using the criminal justice system as a means for addressing homelessness, subjecting vulnerable individuals to an endless cycle of arrests and incarceration. Not only is this approach completely ineffective, it's also expensive, counterproductive, and downright inhumane. 

In fact, the St. Petersburg ordinances are so outrageous, three advocacy organizations filed a federal class-action lawsuit this week against the city that challenges their constitutionality.