For nearly two years, the Las Vegas Justice Court used what was called the “Resort Corridor Court” program.
Judges could issue “order-out” bans. That meant people charged with trespassing or other nuisance crimes could be told to stay away from the Strip.
Not violent criminals. Mostly repeat troublemakers. The kind of people who scare tourists, harass visitors, or create chaos late at night.
Then in late 2024, the program ended.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the court’s chief judge recently said there are no plans to bring it back.
Judges decided the system was flooded with minor cases. Instead, they want to focus on specialty courts that aim to reduce repeat offenses through services and long-term programs.
On paper, that sounds nice. Help people get back on track. Reduce repeat crime. Save taxpayer money.
But here’s the problem.
What happens right now, today, when someone keeps causing problems on the Strip?
If a grocery store catches the same shoplifter over and over, but never bans them from coming back, what do you think happens? They keep coming back.
That’s the concern from business leaders.
The Nevada Resort Association is pushing to bring the program back.
Their argument is simple: The Strip is the engine of Nevada’s economy. If visitors don’t feel safe, they stop coming.
And that’s not a small issue.
Tourism drives billions of dollars in Clark County. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Las Vegas welcomed over 40 million visitors in recent years.
That means jobs, tax revenue, and small business income all depend on keeping that area safe and welcoming.
Supporters of the old program say it worked as a quick, common-sense tool. Not jail. Not long court battles. Just a clear line. Cause problems here, and you’re not welcome back.
Critics see it differently.
Judges say the program was overwhelmed with low-level cases. They argue that cycling people through short-term punishments doesn’t fix anything.
Instead, they want to focus on programs that deal with root causes like addiction or homelessness.
They also point to data showing violent crime dropped across the Las Vegas Valley in 2025.
That’s true. But it doesn’t tell the whole story.
Because tourists don’t judge safety based on spreadsheets. They judge it based on what they see.
If someone is being aggressive on the sidewalk, if crowds feel out of control, if security feels stretched thin, that shapes perception fast.
And perception matters.
If lawmakers or local leaders support tools like “order-out” bans, but courts choose not to use them, then the system is out of sync.
It’s like building a fence but leaving the gate wide open.
To be fair, judges aren’t supposed to just follow political pressure. They’re supposed to use judgment. That’s their job.
But accountability matters too.
If the Strip still has problems, but the courts won’t use the tools designed to deal with them, then something isn’t working.
And pretending otherwise won’t make it better.
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