Looking to epidemiology, the study is driven in part by two basic facts: (1) diseases do not occur by chance — there are always determinants for the disease to occur — and (2) diseases are not distributed at random — distribution is related to risk factors that need to be studied for the population in order to identify solutions. 

The state of homelessness of course is not a disease, but it behaves like diseases. Homelessness does not occur by chance nor is it randomly distributed, which means it can be studied to identify its root causes. Once the causes are identified, solutions can be better identified. 

By framing the problem from an epidemiological context, our perspective shifts away from viewing homelessness as a cause and more so as a symptom of deep-rooted causes. By analogy, the same holds true for treating delinquent behaviors. Because the delinquent conduct is a symptom of underlying causes, punishment does not do well to rehabilitate delinquent behaviors. 

The end result is to punish the symptom. Imagine your doctor punishing you for having the flu instead of using diagnostic tools to determine what is causing your headaches, fever, coughing and other symptoms. You would not return to the doctor and might even file a complaint with the medical licensing board. 

To read more of Judge Steven Teske and Naomi Smoot Evans article, please click here.