VANDALISM
AND OUTDOOR RECREATION:
symposium proceedings
PACIFIC
SOUTHWEST
Forest and Range
Experiment Station
FOREST SERVICE.
U. S.DEPARTMENT O F AGRICULTURE
P.O. BOX 245, BERKELEY. CALIFORNIA 94701
USDA FOREST SERVICE
GENERAL TECHNICAL
REPORT PSW- 17 I1976
Alfano, Sam S., and Arthur W. Magill, technical coordinators.
1976. Vandalism and outdoor recreation: symposium proceedings. USDA Forest Serv. Gen. Tech.
Rep. PSW-17, 72 p., illus. Pacific Southwest Forest and Range Exp. Stn., Berkeley, Calif.
Resource managers, law enforcement officers, designers, and social scientists provide 24 papers
giving an overview of vandalism on outdoor recreation areas; a measure of the difficult control
problems which must be solved; some insights for design of buildings, fixtures, and site layouts to
reduce or repel vandalism; and a profile of vandals, with respect to the potential for reducing their
activities through understanding of social-psychological factors. Recommendations prepared by
panelists and symposium participants summarize the views presented and suggest measures for control
of vandalism on outdoor recreation areas.
Oxford: 907.2:U 343.22.
Retrieval Terms: outdoor recreation areas; vandalism; law enforcement; design; social factors.
Technical Coordinators
SAM S. ALFANO is recreation staff officer, Los Padres National Forest. He earned a bachelor of
science degree in forestry in 1954 at Utah State University. His work in outdoor recreation began on
the Angeles National Forest in 1957 and he also served on the Sequoia and San Bernardino National
Forests before his assignment to Los Padres in 1966. ARTHUR W. MAGILL is principal resource
analyst in the Station's Land Use and Landscape Planning Methodology Research Work Unit, assigned
to study of resource impacts, human behavior, landscape analysis, and urban forestry. He holds
degrees in forestry from the University of Washington (bachelor of science, 1957) and the University
of California, Berkeley (master of science, 1963). He joined the Station staff in 1957.
VANDALISM AND OUTDOOR RECREATION:
symposium proceedings
Sam S. Alfano
Arthur W. Magill
Technical C o o r d i n a t o r s
CONTENTS
Page
...............................
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preface
The View f r o m t h e F i e l d
V a n d a l i s m ~ A nOverview.
......................
George A . Kenline
Vandal ism o n t h e Santa L u c i a D i s t r i c t
...............
John Blake
Vandalism o n t h e M t .
Pinos D i s t r i c t
................
James Hunter
Vandalism i n D e s e r t Areas
.....................
Mike Wintch
Vandalism i n t h e Channel
Ronald W. Sutton
I s l a n d s N a t i o n a l Monument.
Vandalism i n C a l i f o r n i a S t a t e Parks
........
................
T h o m a s Killer
Vandal ism i n a C i t y Park.
Richard Samp
.....................
Vandalism i n Organized Camps i n C a l i f o r n i a .
............
Patrick C . Dickson
Law Enforcement
Vandal ism and Law Enforcement on N a t i o n a l F o r e s t Lands.
T h o m a s A.
Vandalism:
......
Hoots
The C a l i f o r n i a S t a t e Park Approach.
Jerry Morrison
..........
1
3
Page
......................
25
........
27
.................
29
.........................
30
Vanda1ismat"RedRock"
J o h n C. E i n o l a n d e r
Law Enforcement and Vandalism i n Our N a t i o n a l Parks
N i c h o l a s Whelan
A M a g i s t r a t e ' s View o f Vandalism.
W i l l a r d W. McEwen
CreativeJustice.
G l e n n Hampton
Design and Vandal ism
....................
34
......
35
..................
37
.......................
39
..............
42
......................
46
.....................
50
................
54
The Designer as t h e Vandal.
Michael M o r r i s s e y
C o n t r o l o f V a n d a l i s m ~ A nA r c h i t e c t u r a l Design Approach.
John Grosvenor
Design o f Campground F a c i l i t i e s
B r i a r Cook
Des i g n v s . Vandal ism.
A r t h u r C. D a n i e l i a n
P r e v e n t i v e P l a n n i n g t o Reduce Vandalism
H. Ernest Reynolds
S o c i o l o q y o f Vandalism
Vandals A r e n ' t A l l Bad.
Michael L. W i l l i a m s
TheMessageofVandalism.
Arthur W. Magill
A P s y c h o a n a l y t i c View o f Vandal ism.
R o b e r t J. S o k o l
Vandalistic Forest F i r e S e t t i n g
..................
58
W i l l i a m S . Folkman
C o n t r o l o f Vandalism i n R e c r e a t i o n A r e a s ~ F a c t , F i c t i o n , o r
Fol k l o r e ?
.............................
Roger N .
Clark
62
PREFACE
Vandal ism i s t a k i n g an i n c r e a s i n g l y b i g
b i t e o u t o f t h e f u n d s needed f o r p r o t e c t i o n
and maintenance o f r e c r e a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s i n
s o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a . The p r o b l e m i s n o t
l i m i t e d t o the southern p o r t i o n o f t h e State
o r even t o Cal i f o r n i a as a w h o l e ~ i te x i s t s
nationwide.
I n 1974, $1.5 m i l l i o n was spent
t o c o r r e c t vandalous damage and l i t t e r i n g on
t h e 17 N a t i o n a l F o r e s t s i n C a l i f o r n i a , b u t
$7.5 m i l l i o n was t h e c o s t t o t h e e n t i r e Nat i o n a l F o r e s t System.
Agencies o t h e r t h a n
the Forest Service a r e a l s o paying the cost
o f vandal ism. The Cal i f o r n i a Department o f
Parks and R e c r e a t i o n r e p o r t e d $87,000 w o r t h
o f damage i n 1975, b u t because c o n s i d e r a b l e
v a n d a l i s m goes u n r e p o r t e d , a c t u a l annual
c o s t s have been e s t i m a t e d as h i g h as $180,000.
The U. S. Bureau o f Land Management has e s t i mated damage as h i g h as $250,000 p e r y e a r ;
a l t h o u g h t h a t i s much l o w e r t h e n t h e F o r e s t
S e r v i c e ' s c o s t s , t h e Bureau has fewer f a c i 1i t i e s and t h e y a r e more w i d e l y d i s t r i b u t e d .
I n g e n e r a l , vandal ism i s i n c r e a s i n g f o r
m u n i c i p a l , S t a t e , and F e d e r a l a g e n c i e s as
w e l l as f o r p r i v a t e l a n d h o l d i n g companies.
Resource managers t h r o u g h o u t t h e n a t i o n
a r e s e a r c h i n g f o r t h e meaning b e h i n d v a n d a l ous a c t s , h o p i n g t h a t t h r o u g h reason and
u n d e r s t a n d i n g , t h e y can f i n d ways t o s t o p t h e
seemingly e n d l e s s d e s t r u c t i o n , t h e f t , and
l i t t e r i n g . The Outdoor R e c r e a t i o n Vandalism
Symposium, h e l d March 26-27, 1976 a t Santa
Barbara, Cal i f o r n i a sponsored by t h e Los
Padres N a t i o n a l F o r e s t o f t h e F o r e s t S e r v i c e
and t h e S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a S e c t i o n o f t h e
S o c i e t y o f American F o r e s t e r s , r e p r e s e n t s a
s t e p toward an o r g a n i z e d , i n t e r d i s c i p l i n a r y
approach t o t h e s e a r c h f o r s o l u t i o n s .
The
symposium has drawn upon t h e e x p e r t i s e o f
foresters, sociologists, criminologists,
a r c h i t e c t s , park planners, psychologists,
landscape a r c h i t e c t s , and r e c r e a t i o n t e c h n i c i a n s t o d e f i n e t h e impact o f v a n d a l i s m on
(1) t h e p h y s i c a l r e s o u r c e and t h e u s e r pub1 i c ,
(2) t h e problems o f law enforcement, ( 3 ) t h e
o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r c o n t r o l through f a c i l i t y
and s i t e d e s i g n , and (4) t h e s o c i o - p s y c h o l o g i c a l p r o f i l e o f v a n d a l s and t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r
social control.
The "man-on-the-ground ," t h e r e c r e a t i o n
r e s o u r c e manager, d a i l y f a c e s t h e consequences
o f vandal ism.
He u s u a l l y r e g a r d s a c t s o f vand a l i s m as "senseless" o r "wanton" and cannot
u n d e r s t a n d why some p e o p l e d e f a c e o r d e s t r o y
f a c i l i t i e s p r o v i d e d t o g i v e them p l e a s u r e .
I n t h i s c o l l e c t i o n o f papers, s e v e r a l "menon-the-ground" o f f e r t h e i r views o f t h e
d e s t r u c t i o n wrought by "phantom" v a n d a l s and
o f "types" o f vandalous a c t s . Vandalism i s
v a r i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d as l i t t e r i n g ; d i s t u r b i n g
t h e peace; damaging o r d e s t r o y i n g v e h i c l e s ,
buildings, o r other property; s t a r t i n g wildf i r e s ; chopping down o r m u t i l a t i n g t r e e s and
shrubs; t h e f t ; and d e f a c i n g o b j e c t s w i t h
graffiti.
Managers have t a l l i e d t h e c o s t s o f
vandalism, and t h e y have been i n n o v a t i v e i n
d e a l i n g w i t h t h e problems, b u t t h e y a d m i t t o
a l a c k o f sound s o l u t i o n s t h a t a r e g e n e r a l l y
a p p l i c a b l e . They a r e s e e k i n g a s s i s t a n c e i n
e f f e c t i v e c o n t r o l o f vandals.
Resource managers work c l o s e l y w i t h law
enforcement o f f i c e r s .
Unfortunately, catchi n g a vandal i s n o t s i m p l e , f o r a l l t o o
o f t e n , t h e a c t i s unobserved and t h e vandal
i s gone b e f o r e an o f f i c e r a r r i v e s . Several
r e s o u r c e managers, a l a w enforcement o f f i c e r ,
and a m a g i s t r a t e have expressed, i n t h e s e
proceedings, t h e i r f r u s t r a t i o n i n d e a l i n g
w i t h vandals.
Some o f f i c e r s suggest s t r o n g e r
p o l i c e c o n t r o l and o t h e r s suggest a v o i d i n g a
' ' h a r d approach t o law enforcement.
Some
agencies have t r a i n e d r e s o u r c e managers t o be
law enforcement o f f i c e r s , whereas o t h e r agenc i e s do n o t want managers t o assume t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . The o b v i o u s l y c o n f l i c t i n g
v i e w p o i n t s s t r o n g l y suggest t h e need f o r
g r e a t e r u n d e r s t a n d i n g and more u n i f o r m 1 y
a p p l i c a b l e approaches t o law enforcement.
A r c h i t e c t s , landscape a r c h i t e c t s , and
e n g i n e e r s a r e f a c e d w i t h t h e dilemma o f des i g n i n g s i t e s , b u i l d i n g s , and f a c i l i t i e s t h a t
a r e vandal - p r o o f y e t a t t r a c t i v e and s e r v i c e a b l e enough t o n o t i n v i t e vandalism--more
d e s i r a b l y , t h a t a r e so " i n tune" w i t h human
needs t h a t vandalous a c t s do n o t happen.
The s o c i o l o g i s t - p s y c h o l o g i s t p e r c e i v e s
vandal ism as a s o c i a l problem t h a t i s symptomatic o f s o c i e t y ' s f a i l u r e t o provide f o r the
b a s i c human needs o f a segment o f t h e pub1 i c .
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , no u n i v e r s a l answers a r e a v a i l a b l e now o r l i k e l y t o be. U n d e r s t a n d i n g o f
the d i v e r s i t y o f individual motivation--of
b o t h t h e vandal and t h e manager--is a necess a r y s t e p toward d i s c o v e r y o f d i v e r s e
solutions.
By summarizing t h e papers o f t h e panels
i n each problem a r e a , and s e c u r i n g a u d i e n c e
i n t e r a c t i o n , we have developed a number o f
recommendations.
We hope t h a t r e s o u r c e managers and o t h e r s
w i l l t r y t o f o l l o w t h e recommendations.
Furthermore, we hope t h e y w i l l r e c o r d and
r e p o r t successes o r f a i l u r e s , t h u s g i v i n g
some measure o f t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e symposium.
Such feedback w i l l h e l p t o d e t e r m i n e t h e des i r a b i l i t y o f f u t u r e meetings, and may a l s o
suggest add i t i o n a l r e s e a r c h o b j e c t i v e s .
T h i s symposium o n v a n d a l i s m b r o u g h t
together representatives o f the Forest
S e r v i c e , U.S. Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e , and
t h e S o c i e t y o f American F o r e s t e r s .
Paul Rich,
e d u c a t i o n a l chairman, Southern Cal i f o r n i a
S e c t i o n SAP, served as symposium co-chairman.
The f o l l o w i n g N a t i o n a l F o r e s t pub1 i c i n f o r m a t i o n o f f i c e r s served as panel m o d e r a t o r s :
El 1 i o t t Graham, San B e r n a r d i n o ; D a v i d A.
Kimbrough, Angeles; Grover Payne, C l e v e l a n d ;
and Edward Waldapfel, Los Padres.
RECOMMENDATIONS
There a r e c u r r e n t l y no u n i v e r s a l l y
a p p l i c a b l e s o l u t i o n s f o r vandal ism.
Develop s o l u t i o n s t o meet t h e demands o f spec i f i c l o c a t i o n s and
conditions.
Publ i c Involvement and P l a n n i n g
 ¥ P r o v i d o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r t h e pub1 i c
t o express t h e i r o p i n i o n s and ideas about o u t door r e c r e a t i o n p l a n n i n g .
I t may be i m p o r t a n t
t o i n v o l v e u s e r s i n t h e development and maintenance process.
*Do comprehensive s i t e p l a n n i n g on t h e
s i t e , w i t h i n p u t f r o m s i t e managers, d e s i g n e r s , and l a w enforcement s p e c i a l i s t s . Use
o p i n i o n s and ideas f r o m t h e p u b l i c i n t h e
planning process.
Environmental E d u c a t i o n
 ¥ E x p l a i t o v i s i t o r s how v a r i o u s a c t i v i t i e s v i o l a t e human r i g h t s o r damage o r des t r o y f a c i 1 i t i e s and n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s .
Â¥Develo programs t o show v i s i t o r s how
t o use v a r i o u s r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s and
r e l a t e d n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s i n a manner t h a t i n c r e a s e s t h e i r enjoyment w i t h o u t damaging prope r t y and r e s o u r c e s o r v i o l a t i n g t h e r i g h t s o f
others.
Â¥Us s c h o o l s and mass media t o i n f o r m
a l l l e v e l s o f t h e p u b l i c about p r o p e r and cons i d e r a t e uses o f o u t d o o r r e c r e a t i o n a r e a s .
The success o f e d u c a t i o n a l programs i s depende n t o n s u c c i n c t messages t h a t a v o i d p r o f e s s i o n a l j a r g o n , on p r o p e r a u d i e n c e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , and on s e l e c t i o n o f t h e b e s t media o r
o t h e r conveyance t o reach t h e d e s i r e d
aud iences
.
 ¥ I n i t i a t news coverage by r e c r e a t i o n
personnel on items o f p u b l i c concern w i t h o u t
r e l y i n q on t h e news media t o w r i t e t h e
a r t icles.
Manager A t t i t u d e s ,
Involvement, and T r a i n i n g
Â¥Secur p e r s o n a l involvement o f management personnel i n s o l v i n g t h e vandal ism problem.
I t i s e s s e n t i a l f o r managers t o r e a l i z e
t h a t t h e y may a c t u a l l y encourage v a n d a l i s m
t h r o u q h a c c e p t i n g poor s i t e and f a c i l i t y design, p r o v i d i n g recreational opportunites t h a t
a r e meaningless t o u s e r s , o r f a i l i n g t o unders t a n d and r e l a t e t o t h e needs o f u s e r s .
 ¥ C o n s i d e t h e f u l l range o f methods
a v a i l a b l e t o managers f o r r e d u c i n g t h e e n t i r e
problem o f d e v i a n c y .
 ¥ A v o i r u l e s t h a t m e r e l y s e r v e managers'
convenience, and d e s i g n , p l a n , and manage t o
s a t i s f y t h e i n t e r e s t s and needs o f t h e u s e r
cub1 i c .
Â¥Develo and use t r a i n i n g programs t o
i n d o c t r i n a t e f u l I - t i m e and p a r t - t ime personnel
i n p o l i c y , law enforcement, and p e r s o n a l aporoaches t o u s e r s .
Â¥Se up a sound t r a i n i n g program and an
e f f e c t i v e career ladder f o r outdoor recreation
personnel.
R e g u l a t i o n , C o o p e r a t i o n , and Law Enforcement
@ E s t a b l i s h and use a u n i f o r m code o f
r e g u l a t i o n s f o r a l l agencies i n a c o o r d i n a t e d
e f f o r t t o reduce vandalism.
Â¥Se up annual r e v i e w by law enforcement
and r e s o u r c e agencies o f t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e aut h o r i t i e s and r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t o a s s u r e a
c l e a r understanding o f t h e i r respective r o l e s .
Â¥Increas a v a i l a b i l i t y o f law enforcement personnel w h i l e m i n i m i z i n g c o s t s by
u t i l i z i n g t h e S h e r i f f ' s Reserve Deputy p r o gram.
Reserves a r e v o l u n t e e r s who work w i t h
r e g u l a r S h e r i f f ' s D e p u t i e s d u r i n g weekends and
o t h e r heavy workload p e r i o d s .
Improve Agency Image
@Promote a f a v o r a b l e p u b l i c s e r v i c e
image by
i m p r o v i n g employee image o f t h e
agency (bu i 1 d s t r o n g e r e s p r i t de
corps )
e x p l a i n i n g t o v i s i t o r s t h e reasons
f o r agency a c t i o n s
p r o v i d i n g complete outdoor recreat i o n i n f o r m a t i o n a t each r e c r e a t i o n
area
m a i n t a i n i n g a low p r o f i l e b u t f a i r ,
f i r m , and i m p a r t i a l p o l i c y i n law
enforcement.
Court A c t i o n s
Â¥Tak law enforcement a c t i o n on ob v i o u s
violations.
rangers, c a r e t a k e r s , o r p o l i c e by
schedul i n g work hours t o c o i n c i d e
w i t h peak use p e r i o d s and times o f
greatest confl i c t
Â¥Mak t h e names o f c o n v i c t e d vanda I s and
t h e i r punishment known through t h e media
avoiding regular patterns o f patrol
Â¥Encourag c o u r t s and m a g i s t r a t e s t o
sentence misdemeanor o f f e n d e r s t o work on o u t door r e c r e a t i o n areas.
u s i n g the t a s k f o r c e concept ( 3 o r 4
o f f i c e r s a t a time) t o s a t u r a t e
problem areas.
Management C o n t r o l Act ions
Â¥Reduc c o n f l i c t between types o f r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t y (groups vs. s i n g l e f a m i l i e s ,
motorboats vs. s a i l b o a t s , fishermen vs. water
s k i e r s , e t c . ) by a s s i g n i n g them t o separate
areas.
Â¥Us v o l u n t e e r o r o t h e r manpower p r o grams t o p r o v i d e campground h o s t s (caretakers).
Â¥Conside h i r i n g a known vandal, who i s
respected by h i s group, t o be a c a r e t a k e r o r
patrolman.
Des ign
 ¥ P r o v i d firewood a t t h e campground
whenever p r a c t i c a l .
P r o v i d e s a f e areas f o r t a r g e t p r a c t i c e
w i t h firearms.
Â¥D not overdesign; l e s s e l a b o r a t e f a c i l i t i e s would be adequate.
'Design
Â¥Provid f r e e i n t e r p r e t i v e materials a t
t h e s i t e f o r t h e use and enjoyment o f
visitors.
t o i l e t buildings to
meet t h e needs o f t h e user
minimize vandal ism.
@ P r o v i d e evening c a m p f i r e programs.
Â¥Us s i g n s t h a t convey p o s i t i v e
messages.
 ¥ E s t a b l i s o r c o n t i n u e the i n c e n t i v e
1 it t e r c o n t r o l program t o encourage p o s i t i v e
campground behavior by b o t h c h i l d r e n and
adults.
Â¥Desig t w o - u n i t v a u l t t o i l e t s w i t h a
minimum o f 400 square inches o f v e n t i n g .
Â¥Promot awareness by b o t h producer and
consumer t h a t some manufactured products
(motorcycles, j e t s k i s , snowmobiles, hang
g l iders, etc.) are p o t e n t i a l l y d e s t r u c t i v e t o
t h e resource and annoying o r i n t r u s i v e t o
nonusers.
C o n t r o l l i n g Access
Research
I s s u e p e r m i t s o r use a r e s e r v a t i o n
system t o i d e n t i f y i n d i v i d u a l s , f a m i l i e s , o r
groups, thereby i n c r e a s i n g c o n t r o l and making
u s e r s accountable f o r t h e i r a c t i o n s .
(Where p o s s i b l e , use entrance s t a t i o n s
t o c o n t r o l access t o r e c r e a t i o n s i t e s .
Â¥Charg an entrance f e e f o r s i t e maintenance o r r e q u i r e a cleanup d e p o s i t , t o be
f o r f e i t e d i f users f a i l t o l e a v e a c l e a n camp.
Â¥Provid gates t o c o n t r o l e n t r y when a
campground i s f u l l o r a f t e r 10:OO p.m., but
which p e r m i t d e p a r t r e i n t h e event o f an
emergency.
Increase V i s i b l i t y and S u r v e i l l a n c e
Â¥Desig s i t e s t o be v i s i b l e t o p a t r o l 1 inq o f f i c e r s .
 ¥ ncrease t h e v i s u a l presence o f
Â¥Continu research and t e s t i n g o f design
concepts.
Â¥Re-evaluat the r o l e o f p r i v a t e e n t e r p r i s e i n b u i l d i n g and o p e r a t i n g r e c r e a t i o n a l
developments on pub1 i c lands.
Â¥Conduc p r a c t i c a l , on-the-ground r e search on t h e d i v e r s i t y , i n t e n s i t y , causes,
and p o t e n t i a l c o n t r o l s o f vandalism on outdoor
r e c r e a t i o n s i t e s throughout southern C a l i f o r n i a and i f p o s s i b l e t h e e n t i r e southwest. The
v a r i o u s agencies concerned should cooperate on
research p r o j e c t s .
Â¥Conduc research t o h e l p s o l v e problems
o f dispersed r e c r e a t i o n , p a r t i c u l a r l y vandalism.
THE VIEW FROM THE FIELD Vandalism---an Overview
George A. ~ e n l i n e l
I n t h e Bronx Zoo, New York, t h e r e i s a
s i g n above a window t h a t says, "See t h e most
d e s t r u c t i v e animal a l i v e ! "
People r u s h t o
t h e window t o have a l o o k . The window i s
equipped w i t h a m i r r o r .
The e x p e r i e n c e i s
b o t h r e v e a l i n g and condemning.
Man has been
and c o n t i n u e s t o b e d e s t r u c t i v e i n many ways.
I w o u l d l i k e t o e x p l o r e w i t h you some o f t h e
ways man, woman, and c h i l d e x p r e s s themselves
when u s i n g t h e m o u n t a i n a r e a s o f s o u t h e r n
California.
These e x p r e s s i o n s o f b e h a v i o r
w i l l b e l a b e l e d as a c t s o f vandalism, t h a t i s ,
t h e i l l e g a l d e s t r u c t i o n o r defacement o f p r o p e r t y b e l o n g i n g t o someone e l s e .
The mountains o f S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a a r e
u n i q u e t o m i l l i o n s o f p e o p l e who f i n d them a
welcome c o n t r a s t t o t h e b l i g h t e d u r b a n s e t t i n g i n which they l i v e .
The mountains a r e
s t i l l a p l a c e where you can see g r e e n t r e e s ,
r o c k s , b l u e sky, f r e s h w a t e r and s t a r s a t
night.
Most a r e l o c a t e d w i t h i n 1 h o u r ' s
t r a v e l o f f o o t h i l l communities and w i t h i n
2 1/2 h o u r s o f t h e Los Angeles m e t r o p o l i t a n
area
.
H i s t o r i c a l l y t h e s e mountains have s a t as
an i s l a n d above a sea o f d e s e r t , b r u s h l a n d ,
smog, n o i s e , and c o n g e s t i o n .
But t h e l a t e
l j 6 0 ' s and e a r l y 1 9 7 0 ' s saw t h e c h a r a c t e r
and q u a l i t y o f t h e m o u n t a i n e x p e r i e n c e change.
And t h e modern camper b e a r s l i t t l e resemblance t o h i s forefather.
He's w e l l
e q u i p p e d , h i g h l y m o b i l e , and l e a v e s more t h a n
his footprints.
Assuming t h i s i s a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e group,
l e t me a s k you some q u e s t i o n s .
Do you t h r o w
y o u r t r a s h i n t o y o u r n e i g h b o r ' s y a r d ? Do
you c l u t t e r up h i s f l o w e r beds w i t h empty
b e e r cans and pop b o t t l e s ? Do you l i t t e r h i s
n i c e g r e e n lawn w i t h used t i s s u e s , d i s p o s a b l e
baby d i a p e r s , newspapers, paper bags, and s o
f o r t h ? Do you chuck r o c k s , b o t t l e s , and i n n e r
tubes i n t o h i s f i s h pond? I t i s most u n l i k e l y
t h a t you do. You d o u b t l e s s have r e s p e c t f o r
h i s p r o p e r t y and know t h a t he would o b j e c t t o
such b e h a v i o r . S i n c e you r e s p e c t y o u r n e i g h b o r ' s p r o p e r t y and w o u l d n o t t h i n k o f l i t t e r i n g
i t w i t h j u n k , do you have t h e same r e s p e c t f o r
p u b l i c and p r i v a t e l a n d s i n t h e d i s t a n t mount a i n s ? A p p a r e n t l y n o t everyone does, because
R e c r e a t i o n A s s i s t a n t , B i g Bear Ranger
D i s t r i c t , San B e r n a r d i n o N a t i o n a l F o r e s t ,
F o r e s t S e r v i c e , U.S. Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e ,
Fawnskin, C a l i f o r n i a .
y e a r l y , l i k e a plague of locusts, careless
v i s i t o r s n o t o n l y l i t t e r and t r a m p l e , b u t
worse s t i l l , d e l i b e r a t e l y d e s t r o y and d e f a c e
those very n a t u r a l f e a t u r e s which they journey
t o see and e n j o y .
L e t us c o n s i d e r some o f t h e forms and
t y p e s o f v a n d a l i s m we i n t h e f i e l d see r e c u r r i n g o n a season-to-season i f n o t a day-to-day
basis.
And f o r purposes o f d i s c u s s i o n , l e t ' s
t r y t o g i v e them m o t i v e and meaning.
The f i r s t t y p e o f v a n d a l i s m i s done i n
t h e c o u r s e o f , o r i n o r d e r t o , a c q u i r e money
o r property. This includes junking o r s t r i p p i n g f o r r e s a l e , c o l l e c t i n g s o u v e n i r s , and j u s t
p l a i n looting.
A second t y p e i s damage done as a cons c i o u s t a c t i c t o advance some end.
The end i n
mind m i g h t b e t o draw a t t e n t i o n o r g a i n publ i c i t y f o r a p a r t i c u l a r cause.
A t h i r d t y p e uses p r o p e r t y d e s t r u c t i o n as
a f o r m o f revenge b y someone who f e e l s unf a i r l y treated.
This form o f vandalism i s
much s a f e r t h a n p u n c h i n g t h e r a n g e r i n t h e
nose.
A g r e a t amount o f damage i s c a r r i e d o u t
b y p r e t e e n a g e c h i l d r e n as p a r t o f t h e i r p l a y
activities.
Many p a r e n t s r e g a r d t h e campground as a p l a c e where c h i l d r e n can p l a y i n
a h e a l t h y e n v i r o n m e n t . The dangers o f t h e
c i t y a r e l e f t behind; n o t h i n g can h u r t t h e
c h i l d r e n , and t h e r e i s n o t h i n g t h e c h i l d r e n
can h u r t i n r e t u r n . The burdens o f p a r e n t a l
s u p e r v i s i o n can be traded f o r q u i e t hours o f
p r i v a c y as c h i l d r e n r u n o f f t o p l a y b y themselves.
An t h e c h i l d r e n a r e a l o n e , much more
so t h a n i n t h e i r own neighborhoods.
The open
s t r e e t i s r e p l a c e d b y s c r e e n i n g woods.
Watchf u l n e i g h b o r s a r e exchanged f o r i n d i f f e r e n t
s t r a n g e r s d u t i f u l l y f o l l o w i n g t h e r u l e o f noninvolvement t h a t p r e v a i l s i n p u b l i c places.
P r e a d o l e s c e n t c h i l d r e n p r o b a b l y f e e l no sense
o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y toward p a r k f a c i l i t i e s , and
t h e i r predominantly urban u p b r i n g i n g provides
few l e s s o n s i n b e h a v i o r a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h e
n a t u r a l environment.
Under t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s , i t i s a l m o s t i n e v i t a b l e t h a t damage
w i l l o c c u r , m o t i v a t e d by c u r i o s i t y and o f t e n
by t h e s p i r i t o f c o m p e t i t i o n .
The f i n d i n g s o f a s t u d y done by Campbell,
Hendee, and C l a r k i n 1968 a t a P a c i f i c N o r t h west developed s i t e a r e t y p i c a l o f o u r mountains.
Here i s t h e i r a c c o u n t :
Two boys.. . a p p r o x i m a t e l y 12 years
o f age, came t o t h e campground accompanied by t h e i r mother and t h r e e
younger s i b l i n g s .
Their father remained i n t h e c i t y and v i s i t e d o n l y
on weekends, a f a i r l y common a r r a n g e ment.
Upon a r r i v a l , t h e boys immed i a t e l y l e f t t h e i r mother, who was
q u i t e happy t o b e r e l i e v e d o f e n t e r t a i n i n g h e r two c h i l d r e n .
During
t h e f i r s t two days i n camp, t h e
boys w r o t e o b s c e n i t i e s on t h e w a l l
o f one washroom, plugged t h e t o i l e t s
i n a second, b r o k e b o t t l e s i n t h e
beach a r e a , chopped down a t r e e ,
t o r e down e i g h t m e t a l s i g n s on t h e
n a t u r e t r a i l , and became l o s t o v e r n i g h t i n t h e woods.
Other than
t h e i r o v e r n i g h t adventure, t h e i r
a c t i v i t i e s went c o m p l e t e l y unobserved by o t h e r campers o r campground
personnel.
One s h o u l d n o t conclude,
however, t h a t t h e s e boys were n a t u r a l l y malicious.
When one o f t h e
p a r k r a n g e r s suggested t h e y use p a r t
o f t h e i r f r e e t i m e p i c k i n g up t r a s h
and l i t t e r , t h e y plunged i n t o t h e
a c t i v i t y w i t h equal enthusiasm.
For d e s t r u c t i v e p l a y , t h e o l d
adage, "blame t h e p a r e n t , n o t t h e
c h i l d , " has more t h a n a g r a i n o f
truth.
C o n s i d e r a b l e money c o u l d be
saved each y e a r i f p a r e n t s assumed
greater responsibility f o r the
activities o f their children while
i n pub1 i c p a r k s .
Much damage can be a t t r i b u t e d t o unthinking but well-intentioned adults.
For
example, campers sometimes s o l v e d t h e p e r s i s t e n t p r o b l e m o f s c a r c i t y o f f i r e w o o d by
t h e f t f r o m o t h e r campers o r by c u t t i n g down a
nearby t r e e , w i t h no t h o u g h t t o t h e conservat i o n implications o f the act.
N a i l s were hammered i n t r e e s t o s t o r e camping equipment o f f
t h e ground; c a r s and t r a i l e r s were d r i v e n o f f
p a r k i n g pads and i n t o v e g e t a t e d a r e a s f o r t h e
sake o f convenience; f i r e s were b u i l t o u t s i d e
f i r e p l a c e s by persons unaware o f danger t o
t i m b e r - d r y woods; t r a i l e r s a n i t a r y tanks were
e m p t i e d i n dumping s t a t i o n s c l e a r l y marked
' ' c l o s e d " o r " f u l l " as p e o p l e sought s h o r t - r u n
s o l u t i o n s t o t h e i r immediate problems.
The
p o i n t i s t h a t b a s i c a l l y responsible but i l l i n f o r m e d and t e m p o r a r i l y i n c o n s i d e r a t e p e o p l e
c r e a t e many problems i n p u b l i c p a r k s .
The f i n a l t y p e o f v a n d a l i s m we w i l l con-
Campbell, F r e d e r i c k L., John C. Hendee, and
Roger C l a r k .
1968.
Law and o r d e r i n pub1 i c
parks.
Parks and Rec. 3 (12) 28-31, 51-55,
i IIus.
s i d e r c a n ' t b e e x p l a i n e d any o t h e r way than t o
say i t i s m a l i c i o u s m i s c h i e f i n w h i c h persons
o r groups o f persons combine h o s t i l i t y w i t h f u n .
T h i s t y o e o f v a n d a l i s m i s encouraged t o a degree
by our s o c i e t y .
Events such as Halloween, f r a t e r n a l i n i t i a t i o n s , semester b r e a k s , and t h e
a f t e r m a t h o f s p o r t i n g events a r e examples.
And
t h e same k i n d o f m e n t a l i t y accounts f o r what i s
known as " g r a f f i t i , "
t h e c r u d e w r i t i n g o f names,
slogans, o b s c e n i t i e s , and v u l g a r i s m s on f a c i l i t i e s o r natural features.
G r a f f i t i d i f f e r s from
o t h e r forms o f v a n d a l i s m i n t h a t i t i s expected
( f o r example i n a pub1 i c r e s t r o o m ) .
Lavatory
a t t e n d a n t s and c a r e t a k e r s o f p u b l i c b u i l d i n g s
r e g a r d t h e c l e a n i n g o f wal I s as p a r t o f t h e i r
d a i l y routine.
Why must a pub1 i c t o i l e t c o s t $28,300?
Simply because t h e l a d i e s and gentlemen who use
i t o f t e n a r e n o t " l a d i e s " and "gentlemen."
You
m i g h t say
' a c o m f o r t a b l e one can be b u i l t f o r
h a l f the price.'
True, b u t publ i c restrooms
must be vandal p r o o f .
We a r e f o r c e d t o b u i I d
them t o w i t h s t a n d v a n d a l i s m o f t h e most sensel e s s k i n d , and i t c o s t s more.
Lavatories are
o f heavy c a s t i r o n , shower heads have tamperp r o o f b o l t s , l i g h t i n g f i x t u r e s have d o u b l e p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t breakage, showers a r e a c t i v a t e d
by b u t t o n s because shower handles would be
t o r n o f f w i t h i n a few days o r perhaps b e f o r e
t h e b u i l d i n g c o u l d be completed.
The r e s t r o o m
i s made o f c o n c r e t e b l o c k c o n s t r u c t i o n because
some p e o p l e have a h a b i t o f s t r i p p i n g lumber
f r o m wooden s t r u c t u r e s .
Vandalism i s c o s t l y .
But any f i g u r e s a r e
grossly understated:
t h e c o s t o f s e r v i c e s and
b e n e f i t s f o r e g o n e u n t i l f a c i l i t i e s can be made
o p e r a t i o n a l a g a i n , o f m a i n t a i n i n g p a t r o l s and
s e c u r i t y f o r c e s , and o f many o t h e r i n t a n g i b l e s
a r e seldom i n c l u d e d .
For example, v a n d a l s
t y p i c a l l y make p u b l i c phones unusable.
Besides
t h e p r o p e r t y damage, t h e r e i s a t o l l i n human
tragedy here.
A young g i r l d i e d when h e r f a t h e r
was u n a b l e t o summon a d o c t o r f r o m a p u b l i c t e l e phone damaged by vanda l s.
I ' d l i k e t o s h a r e w i t h you my f i r s t exp e r i e n c e w i t h v a n d a l i s m as a p u b l i c employee,
and maybe shed some l i g h t on who does t h i s s o r t
o f thing.
On t h e C l e v e l a n d N a t i o n a l F o r e s t ,
a l o n g t h e o l d Highway 80, E l l i s Wayside Rest i s
a d m i n i s t e r e d as a day-use f a c i l i t y by t h e F o r e s t
Service.
The s i t e i s on a h i l l s i d e covered w i t h
boulders festooned w i t h g r a f f i t i .
On a Sunday
a f t e r n o o n t h e Ranger, who had made up h i s mind
t o c a t c h someone, went t h e r e and w a i t e d .
I t
w a s n ' t l o n g b e f o r e a c a r p u l l e d up w i t h a man
and woman i n s i d e .
The woman g o t o u t , opened
t h e t r u n k , removed p a i n t and b r u s h , and headed
f o r the rocks.
A f t e r she p a i n t e d h e r name o n .
a l a r g e b o u l d e r , t h e Ranger i n t e r c e p t e d h e r a t
the car.
She was v e r y embarrassed, and r i q h t l v
so.
She was a mature, w e l l dressed, and w e l l
educated woman.
Her husband, a Navy c a p t a i n
and s h i p ' s commander i n San Diego, s i t t i n g i n
t h e d r i v e r ' s s e a t , was a t a l o s s f o r words.
Why
had she done i t ? - - s h e had always had t h e u r g e
b u t never b e f o r e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y .
T h i s one
e x p e r i e n c e p o i n t s up t h e d i v e r s e backgrounds and
ages o f t h e s o - c a l l e d vandals.
What i s b e h i n d i t ? Many e x p l a n a t i o n s
have been g i v e n .
" A l l c r i m e i s up, everywhere, and t h i s i s j u s t p a r t o f i t , " have
s a i d some a u t h o r i t i e s .
Vandalism and Viol e n c e 3 , a s p e c i a l r e p o r t developed by t h e
s t a f f o f E d u c a t i o n U.S.A.,
p o i n t s t o improper
i n s t r u c t i o n and a d u l t b e h a v i o r as c o n t r i b u t i n g
factors:
"The Boston Tea P a r t y i s o f t e n h e l d
up t o s t u d e n t s as a ' p a t r i o t i c a c t , ' a s o r t
o f punishment f o r t h e B r i t i s h i n r e t a l i a t i o n
f o r an onerous t e a t a x .
Yet what happened was
p u r e v a n d a l i s m p e r p e t r a t e d by grown men."
When t a k e n t o g e t h e r , t h e v a r i o u s reasons
g i v e n seem t o i n d i c a t e t h a t vandalism i s o f t e n
a protest.
Stanford University Professor
P h i l i p G. zimbardo4 e x p l a i n s : "Vandal ism i s
The cause, he says,
r e b e l 1 i o n w i t h a cause."
i s " s o c i a l i n d i f f e r e n c e , apathy, t h e l o s s o f
community, neighborhood and f a m i l y values."
I t i s t r u e t h a t p r a c t i c a l l y everywhere young
ones see l o s s o f v a l u e s - - l y i n g , c h e a t i n g , and
h y p o c r i s y a r e rampant, even among w o r l d 1 eaders.
T h i s breeds h o s t i l i t y i n y o u n g s t e r s a g a i n s t
" t h e e s t a b l ishment" and vandal ism i s one way
they vent t h e i r feelings.
I n d i f f e r e n t , u n c a r i n g p a r e n t s a r e perhaps t h e main cause o f vandalism.
And t h i s
a b d i c a t i o n o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y by p a r e n t s i s
n o t e d i n p r a c t i c a l l y e v e r y community.
As a
r e s u l t , r i c h , poor, m i d d l e c l a s s , and b o t h
b l a c k and w h i t e youngsters a r e a l l d e e p l y
i n v o l v e d i n vandalism. A s t u d y o f more t h a n
3100 teenagers f r o m "every m a j o r segment o f
the I l l i n o i s adolescent population" revealed
t h a t n e a r l y one i n e v e r y t h r e e had engaged i n
property destruct ion!
Wanton d e s t r u c t i o n by vandals i s h u r t i n g
p r o p e r t y owners, i n c r e a s i n g t h e c o s t o f government, p u s h i n g up taxes and i n s u r a n c e r a t e s , and
a d d i n g hundreds o f m i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s t o t h e
h i g h c o s t o f l i v i n g i n America.
However, t o
W e l l s , Elmer.
1971. Vandalism and v i o l e n c e :
I n n o v a t i v e s t r a t e g i e s reduce c o s t t o schools.
E d u c a t i o n U.S.A. S p e c i a l Report.
59 p.
Natl.
Sch. Publ. Rel. Assoc., Washington, D.C.
1973. A f i e l d exZimbardo, P h i l i p G.
p e r i m e n t i n autoshaping.
I n Vandalism.
P. 85-90, i l l u s .
C o l i n ward, ed.
Van Nostrand
R e i n h o l d Co., New York.
h i g h l i g h t t h e law enforcement problems-consider the d e s t r u c t i o n o f municipal property
i n New York, where t h e r e were more t h a n 100,000
c o m p l a i n t s o f vandal ism b u t o n l y 3216 a r r e s t s
were made. Many o f f e n d e r s g e t o f f w i t h j u s t
a l i g h t reprimand.
The c e n t r a l reason f o r nonenforcement i s
one t h a t a p p l i e s t o v a n d a l i s m as a whole-t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s i s one o f t h e most s a f e and
anonymous o f o f f e n s e s . There i s no oersonal
c o m p l a i n t , n o r any p r o p e r t y t o c a r r y o r d i s pose o f .
Consequently, d e t e c t i o n r a t e s a r e low and
most damage i s n o t thought w o r t h b o t h e r i n g about.
A l t h o u g h t h e t o t a l c o s t m i g h t be cons i d e r a b l e , each i n d i v i d u a l a c t i s t o o t r i v i a l
t o respond t o i n any o t h e r way t h a n by i g n o r i n g
it.
Employees complain, " I d o n ' t g e t i t . We
g i v e them something f r e e and t h e y d e s t r o y i t . "
A f e e l i n g o f hopelessness has become g e n e r a l .
H e r e ' s a t y p i c a l f e e l i n g expressed by a r e c r e a t i o n worker a f t e r r e v i e w i n g f o u r pages o f
notes o n r e p a i r s needed i n D i s t r i c t developed
sites.
" I t ' s n o t h i n g t o g e t h y s t e r i c a l about.
I t ' s a housekeeping problem, a p a r t o f managing
p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s . One m i n u t e i t u p s e t s you,
t h e n e x t m i n u t e you t h i n k ' t h a t ' s l i f e . ' "
We've looked a t a number o f examples o f
vandalism.
Maybe we s h o u l d t r y t o draw
some p r e l i m i n a r y c o n c l u s i o n s as one m i g h t do
who works w i t h t h e problem i n t h e f i e l d .
1 . The p r o p e r t y d e s t r o y e d i s much more
l i k e l y t o 'be p u b l i c l y than p r i v a t e l y owned.
T h i s i s due .not j u s t t o t h e g r e a t e r opport u n i t i e s t o attack public property, but also
t o i t s anonymous n a t u r e and symbolic v a l u e .
The t a r g e t i s d e p e r s o n a l i z e d and n o t e a s i l y
i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e idea " i t belongs t o them."
2 . Some p a t t e r n i n g i n t h e p h y s i c a l
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f the t a r g e t i s a l s o apparent:
t h e p r o p e r t y tends t o be d e r e l i c t , i n c o m p l e t e
o r b a d l y kept.
Again such p r o p e r t y m i g h t be
seen as f a i r game and n o t r e a l l y b e l o n g i n g t o
anybody.
3. Areas o f h i g h v a n d a l i s m can be d i s tinguished by t h e i r s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .
S i t e s c l o s e i n and w i t h i n easy access t o
lower income groups r e c e i v e more t h a n t h e i r
s h a r e o f vandalism.
4. S t u d i e s o f t h e s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
o f the offender a r e important t o counteract
t h e image o f homogeneity which assumes t h e exi s t e n c e o f something l i k e a "vandal type" r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a l l s o r t s o f vandalism.
Clearly
no such p e r s o n a l i t y t y p e e x i s t s .
5. Groups o f young p e o p l e i n l a t e a d o l e s cence, e n j o y i n g t h e r e l a t i v e l y i n e x p e n s i v e benef i t s o f p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s , a r e prone t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n m a l i c i o u s , a p p a r e n t l y senseless v a n d a l I sm.
How can t h i s r i s i n g t i d e o f v a n d a l i s m be
stemmed? What i s needed? Many e f f o r t s a r e
b e i n g made t o r e v e r s e t h e t i d e .
Dif.ficultt o - b r e a k p l a s t i c i s r e p l a c i n g g l a s s i n windows.
Hard-finish epoxy-resin paints t h a t
r e s i s t markings w i t h f e l t - t i p pens, l i p s t i c k ,
and crayons a r e b e i n g used on i n t e r i o r w a l l s .
New b u i l d i n g s a r e b e i n g b u i l t l i k e f o r t r e s s e s ,
w i t h few, i f any, e x t e r i o r windows.
Alarms,
fences, n i g h t l i g h t i n g - - a l l o f t h e s e measures
and more have been employed.
Yet v a n d a l i s m
Increases.
I n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s p a r e n t s must
be p a r e n t s . They cannot s l o u g h t h e
Job o n t o someone e l s e .
And t h e y v e r y
d e f i n i t e l y do have a n o b l i g a t i o n t o
discipline
I t s c h i e f value
1i e s i n s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e (personali t y ) so t h a t t h e a d o l e s c e n t can d e a l
...
....
a d e q u a t e l y and i n d e p e n d e n t l y w i t h
h i s i n n e r d r i v e s and w i t h o u t e r
pressures.
I t prevents the c h i l d
f r o m becoming a v i c t i m o f a n a r c h i c
impulses, n a r c i s s i s t i c i n d u l g e n c e ,
and a f a l s e sense o f omnipotence.
The p a r e n t must employ t h i s d i s c i p l i n e i n a manner t h a t w i l l l e a d
t o self discipline."
I w o u l d l i k e t o c o n c l u d e by r e a d i n g f r o m
an a r t i c l e i n t h e San B e r n a r d i n o Sun, t i t l e d ' V a n d a l i s m may n o t be a l l bad."
Federal
o f f i c i a l s here a r e poking holes i n the theory
t h a t v a n d a l i s m i s a l l bad. They have found
t h a t b u l l e t - r i d d l e d signs a r e s t o l e n less
o f t e n t h a n u n s c a r r e d ones.
After losing four
o r f i v e brand new o f f - r o a d s i g n s i n as many
months, Bureau o f Land Management r a n g e r s
d e c i d e d e a r l y t h i s y e a r t o punch h o l e s i n t h e
signs before i n s t a l l a t i o n .
"The s i g n s w i t h
h o l e s j u s t d o n ' t l o o k as good t o t h i e v e s who
want them f o r t h e i r w a l l a t home. B e f o r e h o l e s ,
t h e s i g n s l a s t e d about 10 days, s i n c e becoming
h o l e y t h e y ' v e s t a y e d up t o t h r e e months."
Vandalism on the Santa Lucia District
John ~ l a k e l
The s t a f f o f t h e Santa L u c i a D i s t r i c t o f
t h e Los Padres N a t i o n a l F o r e s t w o u l d l i k e t o
t h i n k t h a t t h i s D i s t r i c t has a b e t t e r f o r e s t
u s e r t h a n some o f t h e o t h e r D i s t r i c t s o f F o r e s t s .
Our v a n d a l i s m p r o b l e m has been s m a l l i n t h e p a s t ,
b u t i t i s i n c r e a s i n g even though o u r D i s t r i c t i s
q u i t e i s o l a t e d from l a r g e p o p u l a t i o n c e n t e r s .
The n e a r e s t and l a r g e s t towns a r e San L u i s Obispo
and Santa M a r i a , b u t b o t h a r e r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l .
Three S t a t e highways and orie i n t e r s t a t e highway
p r o v i d e 1 i m i t e d access t o t h e D i s t r i c t .
Despite g e n e r a l l y average-type v i s i t o r s , a
f a v o r a b l e l o c a t i o n , and l i m i t e d access, o u r t o t a l
c o s t s due t o v a n d a l i s m came t o $4,213 d u r i n g
1975. L i t t e r and t r a s h p i c k - u p c o s t s amounted
t o $18,700.
The predominant types o f vandal ism
t h a t we have e x p e r i e n c e d a r e :
(l,)shooting,
(2) chopping, (3) g r a f f i t i , and (3) s t e a l i n g . The
e x t e n t t o w h i c h p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s can be damaged
R e c r e a t i o n T e c h n i c i a n , Santa L u c i a Ranger
D i s t r i c t , Los Padres N a t i o n a l F o r e s t , F o r e s t
S e r v i c e , U.S. Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e , Santa
Maria, C a l i f o r n i a .
i s evident.
R i f l e s , shotguns, and p e l l e t guns
have been used t o r i d d l e t o i l e t - w a l l s , garbage
cans, s i g n s , and even t r e e s .
People w i t h o u t guns
have used r o c k s , s t i c k s , axes, l a r g e hammers, and
even v e h i c l e s t o d e s t r o y b u i l d i n g s , t a b l e s , s i g n s ,
and even g a t e s made o f heavy m e t a l p i p e .
People
have dumped l i t t e r and garbage o n t h e ground,
s t o l e n t a b l e s , and used a l l types o f wooden f a c i l i t i e s f o r firewood.
O b v i o u s l y , wood s t r u c t u r e s
a r e e a s i l y damaged, b u t we have a l s o l e a r n e d t h a t
f i b e r g l a s s i s a poor m a t e r i a l f o r c o n s t r u c t i n g
campground f i x t u r e s .
The f o l l o w i n g measures may h e l p t o d i s c o u r age v a n d a l i s m i n w i l d l a n d a r e a s :
1. Reward persons s u p p l y i n g i n f o r m a t i o n
l e a d i n g t o t h e apprehension and c o n v i c t i o n o f
persons c o m m i t t i n g vandalous a c t s , by g i v i n g them
t h e f i n e s imposed a g a i n s t t h e g u i l t y persons2.
R e q u i r e f o r e s t v i s i t o r s t o r e g i s t e r bef o r e entering recreation sites.
use.
3.
D e s i g n a t e s h o o t i n g areas f o r p e o p l e t o
Cooperation w i t h sportmen's clubs might
c o n t r i b u t e t o successful establishment o f shootI ng areas.
4.
P e r m i t s e n i o r c i t i z e n s f r e e use o f camps i t e s i n r e t u r n f o r w a t c h i n g t h e campground and
m a i n t a i n i n g t h e area.
F u l l - t i m e occupancy b y r e s p o n s i b l e persons may d i s c o u r a g e vandalous a c t s .
5.
E s t a b l i s h p o s i t i o n s f o r t h e handicapped
and t h e s e n i o r c i t i z e n t o a c t as a c o m b i n a t i o n
caretaker-registrar
f o r campgrounds.
6. Use V i s i t o r I n f o r m a t i o n S e r v i c e t e c h niques through p u b l i c presentations t o discourage vandalism.
7. U t i l i z e t h e mass media (TV, r a d i o and
newspapers) t o d i s s e m i n a t e i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e
p u b l i c c o n c e r n i n g v a n d a l i s m and t o campaign
against i t .
Vandalism on the Mt. Pinos District
James ~ u n t e r l
The M t . P i n o s Ranger D i s t r i c t i s l o c a t e d
5 m i l e s west o f I n t e r s t a t e Highway 5, approximately 1 hour d r i v i n g time from t h e f r i n g e of
t h e Los Angeles m e t r o p o l i t a n a r e a .
The
D i s t r i c t i n c l u d e s n e a r l y 500,000 a c r e s o f l a n d
w h i c h has extremes i n topography, as w e l l as
weather.
The e l e v a t i o n ranges f r o m 3000 f e e t
t o 8831 f e e t a t M t . P i n o s , t h e h i g h e s t p e a k o n
t h e Los Padres N a t i o n a l F o r e s t .
Temperatures
range f r o m b e l o w f r e e z i n g i n t h e w i n t e r months
t o 100 degrees and above d u r i n g t h e d r y summer
months.
Because o f i t s h i g h e l e v a t i o n , t h e area
becomes a snow-bunny haven d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r
months.
Thousands o f v i s i t o r s f r o m t h e Los
Angeles b a s i n f l o c k t o t h e snow-covered s l o p e s .
Use by 10,000 t o 20,000 v i s i t o r s d u r i n g a
w i n t e r weekend has a tremendous impact on
existing recreation f a c i l i t i e s .
For example, garbage-can l i d s a r e used r e g u l a r l y t o
s l i d e on, and garbage cans a r e s t o l e n o r
damaged beyond r e p a i r .
Most i m p o r t a n t , tons
o f l i t t e r a r e l e f t on t h e s l o p e s t o be cleaned
up by D i s t r i c t p e r s o n n e l .
I n 1975, use a t t r i b u t e d t o snow-play was 53,100 v i s i t o r days,
and t h e c o s t o f l i t t e r c l e a n u p was $30,000.
Vandalism c o s t s were $14,430; t h e c o s t s o f t h e
c l o s e l y r e l a t e d t o t a l law enforcement needs
were $1 1,382.
Another m a j o r d i s p e r s e d r e c r e a t i o n a c t i v i t y i s o f f r o a d m o t o r c y c l e use.
Last year t h i s
a c t i v i t y accounted f o r 250,000 v i s i t o r days.
On s p e c i a l o c c a s i o n s , such as p e r m i t t e d "end u r o " e v e n t s , some 2000 t o 3000 p e o p l e a r e
R e c r e a t i o n T e c h n i c i a n , M t . Pinos D i s t r i c t ,
Los Padres N a t i o n a l F o r e s t , F o r e s t S e r v i c e ,
U.S. Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e , F r a z i e r P a r k ,
California.
attracted.
Fortunately, the organizers
o f t h e s e e v e n t s a r e r e q u i r e d t o p r o v i d e nece s s a r y s a n i t a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s , as w e l l as r e moval o f r e f u s e .
The m a j o r i t y o f o f f r o a d
v e h i c l e use, however, i s n o t by o r g a n i z e d
I t i s t h e u n a f f i l i a t e d u s e r s who a r e
groups.
r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e c o n s i d e r a b l e l i t t e r and
v a n d a l i s m problems o f t h e D i s t r i c t .
Between
20 and 30 c u b i c y a r d s o f t r a s h a r e removed
f r o m B a l l i n g e r Campground e v e r y week.
C o n s i d e r a b l e damage can be done b y twowheel- and f o u r - w h e e l - d r i v e v e h i c l e s d u r i n g
t h e wet p e r i o d s o f t h e y e a r .
No d e t e r m i n a t i o n
has been made, a t t h i s t i m e , o f whether t h i s
damage i s i n a d v e r t e n t o r caused b y t h o s e
e n t h u s i a s t s who want t o p i t t h e i r d r i v i n g
s k i l l s a g a i n s t t h e elements.
The r u t t e d
roads and scored h i l l s i d e s soon become w a t e r
c o l l e c t i o n troughs t h a t a c c e l e r a t e s o i l erosion.
The impact o f t h e s e v e h i c l e s can be
judged by t h e f a c t t h a t t h e i r owners accounted f o r 104,358 v i s i t o r days o f use i n
1975.
A c t s o f negl igence and vandal ism a r e n o t
w h o l l y a t t r i b u t a b l e t o o f f r o a d v e h i c l e use.
Campers a l s o do t h e i r s h a r e o f d e s t r u c t i o n ,
such as t i p p i n g o v e r t o i l e t b u i l d i n g s , b r e a k i n g s t o v e t o p s , b u i l d i n g f i r e r i n g s , and
d e s t r o y i n g campground s i g n s .
A total of
250,300 v i s i t o r days were a t t r i b u t e d t o campi n g i n 1975.
I n r e c e n t y e a r s we have n o t i c e d a r a p i d
i n c r e a s e i n promiscuous s h o o t i n g .
A l l objects
become t a r g e t s f o r s h o o t e r s .
Garbage cans,
campground e n t r a n c e s i g n s , v i s i t o r r e g i s t r a t i o n s i g n s , f i r e p l a c e chimneys, and t o i l e t
doors and v e n t s have t o be r e p l a c e d because o f
shooting.
Some v i s i t o r s even t e s t t h e i r s h o o t i n g a b i l i t y by f e l l i n g a t r e e b y s u c c e s s i v e
shots a t the trunk.
o f destruction.
These a r e p u r e wanton a c t s
As you can see, we have had o u r undue
I hope t h a t we can g a i n
s h a r e o f vandalism.
some i n s i g h t on t h i s s e r i o u s p r o b l e m so t h a t
l a w - a b i d i n g c i t i z e n s can a g a i n e n j o y t h e i r
outdoor r e c r e a t i o n experience.
Vandalism in Desert Areas
Mike Wintchl
The s t o r y o f v a n d a l i s m i n t h e C a l i f o r n i a
d e s e r t i s u n d o u b t e d l y s i m i l a r t o many o t h e r s
t h a t m i g h t b e t o l d by F e d e r a l , S t a t e and l o c a l
a g e n c i e s charged w i t h managing o u t d o o r r e c r e a t i o n lands and f a c i l i t i e s .
I n the desert, representatives of the
American p u b l i c i n search o f r e c r e a t i o n have
l e f t t h e i r mark i n t h e f o r m o f " g r a f f i t i " on
r o c k s , t r e e s , p i c n i c t a b l e s , outhouses, s i g n s ,
and h i s t o r i c a l s t r u c t u r e s .
They have blown
up outhouses a t developed b u t p r i m i t i v e campi n g a r e a s , removed o r m u t i l a t e d s i g n s and
markers, t o r n down h i s t o r i c s t r u c t u r e s f o r use
as f i r e w o o d , and done about e v e r y t h i n g e l s e
i n between.
They have a l s o p l a n n e d and p a r t i c i p a t e d
i n p r o j e c t s t o remove " g r a f f i t i " f r o m canyon w a l l s , c l e a n up m a j o r r e c r e a t i o n a r e a s ,
remove hundreds o f t o n s o f t r a s h , r e s t o r e
h i s t o r i c a l o b j e c t s , c o n s t r u c t fences around
abandoned mine s h a f t s , c l e a n up t r a s h around
a s m a l l h i s t o r i c a l s i t e , and a b o u t e v e r y t h i n g e l s e i n between.
The vandal ism s t o r y i n c l u d e s t h e expendi t u r e o f pub1 i c monies: t h e $10,000 t o
r e p l a c e t h e b l o w n up outhouse, t h e $6,500
t o replace p i c n i c tables, repair a large
i n t e r p r e t i v e s i g n and r e p a i r a n o t h e r o u t h o u s e - - a l l v a n d a l i z e d i n one weekend o f use
a t a p o p u l a r developed camping area--and
t h e i n e s t i m a b l e damage t o o u r h e r i t a g e when
h i s t o r i c a l o b j e c t s and b u i l d i n g s a r e t o r n
down and used f o r f i r e w o o d .
The s t o r y
a l s o i n c l u d e s t h e s a v i n g o f p u b l i c expendi t u r e s i n l a b o r c o s t s f o r t h e w o r k done b y
volunteers.
But t h i s t r a d i t i o n a l s t o r y o f vandalism
i s n o t t h e one I w o u l d l i k e t o t e l l today.
L e t me s h a r e w i t h you two i n c i d e n t s t h a t I
l C h i e f Ranger, Bureau o f Land Management,
U.S. Department o f t h e I n t e r i o r , R i v e r s i d e ,
California.
t h i n k r e l a t e d i r e c t l y t o t h e a t t i t u d e developed
b y each i n d i v i d u a l member o f t h e American o u t d o o r - r e c r e a t i o n - s e e k i n g pub1 i c - - " t o vandal i z e
o r n o t t o vandal i z e . "
The f i r s t t o o k p l a c e l e s s t h a n 100 m i l e s
f r o m downtown San Diego, a d j a c e n t t o g i a n t
Anza-Borrego S t a t e D e s e r t P a r k , where t h e
Bureau o f Land Management has developed t h r e e
l o v e l y l i t t l e p r i m i t i v e campgrounds. They a r e
a v a i l a b l e and w e l l used b y t h o s e who v i s i t t h e
L a r k Canyon-McCai n Val l e y a r e a .
Al though t h e y
can be reached o n l y b y d i r t roads, t h e y a r e
r e a d i l y a c c e s s i b l e , most o f t h e t i m e , t o Dad,
Mom, and t h e k i d s i n t h e fami l y "f l i v v e r . "
R e c e n t l y , a BLM maintenance man, making
one o f h i s three-times-a-week t r i p s i n t o t h e
a r e a , encountered, f r o m a d i s t a n c e , a g r o u p o f
' r u f f i a n s " r a i s i n g c a i n i n McCain V a l l e y .
Feari n g f o r h i s own s a f e t y and t h e s a f e t y o f t h e
o t h e r good f o l k camping i n t h e a r e a , h e c a l l e d
o n t h e l o c a l d e p u t y t o v e n t u r e up t h e 10 o r so
m i l e s o f d i r t r o a d and r e s t o r e peace and t r a n quility.
A r r i v i n g o n t h e scene i n h i s w e l l equipped p a t r o l c a r , t h e d e p u t y encountered t h e
' r u f f i a n s " a t c l o s e range and suggested t h e y
mind t h e i r manners and keep t h e i r m o t o r c y c l e s
o n t h e roads and a t a r e s p e c t a b l e speed.
The
g r o u p agreed t o comply so t h e d e p u t y l e f t .
However, on h i s n e x t t r i p i n t o t h e a r e a , t h e
f o l l o w i n g a f t e r n o o n , t h e maintenance man enc o u n t e r e d "mayhem" i n c l u d i n g a h e a v i l y damaged
outhouse.
The second o c c u r r e d i n t h e I m p e r i a l Sand
Dunes, a v a s t sea o f sand some 40 m i l e s l o n g
and 3 t o 5 m i l e s w i d e , w h i c h has s t i m u l a t e d t h e
development o f a u n i q u e f o r m o f o u t d o o r r e c r e a tion.
Developed i n s o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a , "dunei n g " w i t h o f f r o a d v e h i c l e s i s now p o p u l a r i n
much o f t h e Southwest.
T h i s p o p u l a r a r e a l o c a t e d a b o u t 45 m i n u t e s
e a s t o f E l Centre, may b e v i s i t e d b y up t o
50,000 p e o p l e o n a s i n g l e weekend.
The dunebuggy e n t h u s i a s t , w i t h h i s u l t r a l i g h t , o f f r o a d
v e h i c l e , can p e n e t r a t e t h i s e n t i r e sea o f sand,
and f o r y e a r s , t h e w h o l e dune a r e a was a v a i l a b l e
t o him.
Then, o n November 1 , 1973, t h e BLM implemented a v e h i c l e management p l a n t h a t s e t
a p a r t a p o r t i o n o f t h e Dunes as a n a t u r a l r e s e a r c h a r e a and p o s t e d i t as c l o s e d t o a l l
o f f r o a d v e h i c l e use.
W i t h no a u t h o r i t y t o e n f o r c e t h i s c l o s u r e ,
t h e Bureau e l e c t e d , o r was f o r c e d , t o t a k e a n
'ambassador o f good w i l l " approach and a t t e m p t
t o i n f o r m and e d u c a t e v i s i t o r s so as t o g a i n
t h e i r v o l u n t a r y compl iance.
The newly-formed
r a n g e r f o r c e began t h e t a s k o f m e e t i n g and
g r e e t i n g t h e p e o p l e , i n f o r m i n g them o f why t h e
n a t u r a l r e s e a r c h a r e a had been s e t a s i d e ,
a s s i s t i n g i n s e a r c h and rescue, p r o v i d i n g emergency m e d i c a l f i r s t - a i d , and a s s i s t i n g t h e
stuck o r stranded.
A dunebuggy was o b t a i n e d t o a l l o w t h e
Ranger access t o t h e v a s t sea o f sand, n o t t h e
f a s t e s t buggy on t h e s l o p e s , b u t a u n i q u e veh i c l e designed t o c a r r y l i t t e r s , f i r s t - a i d
equipment, and r a n g e r s t r a i n e d t o a s s i s t
t h o s e i n need.
An access road i s b e i ng bu i l t
a l o n g t h e t h r e s h o l d o f t h e Dunes and camping
f a c i l i t i e s a r e b e i n g developed.
Last f a l l
a temporary Ranger S t a t i o n was e r e c t e d t o
p r o v i d e a f o c a l p o i n t f o r BLM i n f l u e n c e i n t h e
Dunes.
S i g n i f i c a n t l y , when t h e s i g n s were f i r s t
p o s t e d around t h e c l o s e d a r e a , about 95 p e r c e n t
were v a n d a l i z e d t h e f i r s t week.
Today, w i t h
t h e same amount o f r a n g e r p a t r o l and t h e same
a u t h o r i t y , t h i s s i g n v a n d a l i s m has been r e duced b y o v e r 95 p e r c e n t . When t h e camping
f a c i l i t i e s were f i r s t developed, a l a r g e t r a s h
receptacle disappeared.
Today i t seems u n l i k e l y
t h a t t h a t w i l l happen a g a i n .
The temporary Ranger S t a t i o n , r e a l l y a
house t r a i l e r i n d i s g u i s e , was p u t i n p l a c e
i n e a r l y September 1975.
This s t a t i o n , located
m i l e s from any permanent r e s i d e n c e , i s n o t
manned a t a l l on weekdays and o n l y p a r t o f t h e
t i m e on most weekends.
Furthermore, i t i s not
p r o t e c t e d by a 1 0 - f o o t h i g h c y c l o n e f e n c e .
Yet
today n o t even a window has been b r o k e n .
Could i t be t h a t f o r t h e i n d i v i d u a l
u s e r ' s , " t o vandalize o r not t o vandalize" i s
d i r e c t l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e i n d i v i d u a l manage r ' s a t t i t u d e - - o r more i m p o r t a n t l y , t h e management g r o u p ' s a t t i t u d e ~ t h a t h e y a r e t o be
t h o u g h t o f f i r s t and f o r e m o s t , as a s o u r c e o f
p u b l i c s e r v i c e and a s s i s t a n c e ?
Vandalism in the Channel Islands National Monument
Ronald W. Suttonl
The d e g r e e o f i s o l a t i o n e n j o y e d by Channel
I s l a n d s N a t i o n a l Monument would seem t o b e a
n a t u r a l d e t e r r e n t t o vandalism.
The Monument
c o n s i s t s o f t h e two s m a l l e s t o f t h e e i g h t Channel
Islands o f f the southern C a l i f o r n i a coast-Anacapa and Santa B a r b a r a I s l a n d s .
Anacapa i s
a b o u t 10 m i l e s f r o m t h e m a i n l a n d , Santa Barbara
about 40 m i l e s .
The i s l a n d s can b e reached by
p r i v a t e o r commerical b o a t , b u t t h e r e a r e no
a i r c r a f t l a n d i n g f a c i l i t i e s f o r p u b l i c use.
Anacapa I s l a n d i s manned y e a r - r o u n d and a r a n g e r
i s on Santa B a r b a r a I s l a n d d u r i n g t h e summer.
T h e r e have been r e p o r t s o f v a n d a l i s m
problems f r o m t h e " o l d hands" d u r i n g p r e v i o u s
seasons.
I n p a r t i c u l a r , o n Santa Barbara I s l a n d ,
p e o p l e were s h o o t i n g a t t h e i s l a n d and o c c a s i o n a l l y a t t h e ranger s t a t i o n .
People came a s h o r e
and dug up p l a n t s f o r t h e i r home gardens.
They
Seasonal P a r k T e c h n i c i a n , Channel I s l a n d s
N a t i o n a l Monument, N a t i o n a l P a r k S e r v i c e , U.S.
Department o f t h e I n t e r i o r , Ventura, C a l i f o r n i a .
i n v e s t i g a t e d t h e sea l i o n r o o k e r i e s , c a u s i n g
stampedes w h i c h k i l l e d pups t o o s m a l l t o g e t
o u t o f t h e way.
There was bad f e e l i n g between
t h e commercial f i s h e r m e n and t h e P a r k S e r v i c e .
People c r e a t e d new t r a i l s w h i c h caused e r o s i o n
and were u n s i g h t l y .
We f e l t t h a t we c o u l d d e a l
w i t h t h e s e problems t h r o u g h law e n f o r c e m e n t , i f
necessary, b u t we a l s o f e l t t h a t we c o u l d p r e v e n t many o f them w i t h a s t r o n g p e r s o n a l c o n t a c t
program between t h e r a n g e r s and t h e v i s i t i n g
public--protection via interpretation.
The t h e o r y b e h i n d t h i s program i s s i m p l e .
The p a r k v i s i t o r i s i n t h e p a r k because he
wants t o be t h e r e , and he l o o k s f o r w a r d t o an
enjoyable experience.
However, t h i s same v i s i t o r b r i n g s w i t h h i m an u r b a n o u t l o o k t o a w i l derness environment.
T h i s o u t l o o k i s n o t cond u c i v e t o an u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h i s new ( f o r him)
e n v i r o n m e n t , and what he does n o t u n d e r s t a n d he
may d e s t r o y .
(Consider a two-year-old c h i l d
w i t h an e l e c t r i c t r a i n .
He l o v e s t h e new t o y ,
b u t does n o t u n d e r s t a n d i t and i t i s soon
broken.
He may s t i l l t h i n k i t i s a g r e a t t o y ,
b u t i t s o r i g i n a l purpose i s d e s t r o y e d and i t s
v a l u e f o r o t h e r s i s gone.)
I f we can c r e a t e
some u n d e r s t a n d i n g by t h e v i s i t o r o f h i s new
p a r k e n v i r o n m e n t , h e w i l l n o t b e so l i k e l y t o
destroy it.
We a t t e m p t e d t h i s by t a l k i n g t o p e o p l e ,
morning, noon, and n i g h t . We v i s i t e d them on
t h e i r b o a t s and passed o u t l i t t e r bags and i n f o r m a t i o n sheets.
We i n v i t e d them ashore.
We
t a l k e d a b o u t r e g u l a t i o n s and t h e reasons f o r
t h e r e g u l a t ions--how t h e r e g u l a t i o n s were des i g n e d t o p r o t e c t them and t h e i r p a r k . We
t a l k e d t o commercial f i s h e r m e n about how t h i s
was t h e i r p a r k and what t h e Park S e r v i c e was
doing there.
We passed o u t maps o f t h e i s l a n d and suggested t h i n g s t o do based on t h e
makeup o f i n d i v i d u a l groups. We h e l d imprompt u n a t u r e w a l k s , o f t e n s e v e r a l a day.
iVe s e t
up d i s p l a y s o f t h i n g s f o r p e o p l e t o t o u c h and
wonder about.
We t r i e d t o c o n t a c t e v e r y i n d i v i d u a l who came w i t h i n t h e p a r k boundary. We
gave c a m p f i r e programs t o campers, n o t on
n a t u r a l h i s t o r y s u b j e c t s , b u t o n how t o t a k e
c a r e o f a t i n y , f r a g i l e , one s q u a r e - m i l e i s l a n d ~ t h e i ri s l a n d .
Above a l l , we t a l k e d ,
t a l k e d , t a l k e d - - t o people.
What were t h e r e s u l t s o f t h i s program?
I t i s d i f f i c u l t t o say f o r sure.
Perhaps
t h e problems had been o v e r s t a t e d .
Perhaps
t h e f a c t t h a t t h e i s l a n d r a n g e r s had a s m a l l
p a t r o l b o a t f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e lessened some
o f t h e problems t h a t e x i s t e d i n t h e p a s t , b u t
t h e s e f a c t s remain: we o n l y had t h r e e f i r e a r m
v i o l a t i o n s a l l summer.
F i v e people out o f
o v e r f i v e thousand d i s t u r b e d t h e sea 1 i o n
rookeries.
O n l y about 200 y a r d s o f new t r a i l s
appeared.
R e l a t i o n s w i t h commercial f i s h e r men were good o r e x c e l l e n t .
Very few p e o p l e
a t t e m p t e d t o remove s o u v e n i r s f r o m t h e i s land.
No p l a n t s were t a k e n t o home gardens.
The most i n t e r e s t i n g f a c t , however, i s t h a t a l l
t h e v i o l a t i o n s t h a t d i d o c c u r were committed
by p e o p l e we had n o t had a chance t o t a l k t o ,
T h i s program was c a r r i e d o u t by o n l y two
people.
A d m i t t e d l y , we had t h e i d e a l c o n d i t i o n
o f c o n t r o l l e d access t o a use area.
(There
i s o n l y one p l a c e t o l a n d on t h e i s l a n d and
o n l y one good anchorage, s o we were a b l e t o
get t o the v i s i t o r s . )
I be1 i e v e t h i s k i n d
o f program would b e u s e f u l i n o t h e r a r e a s where
t h e access i s l e s s c o n t r o l l e d .
The i m p o r t a n t
t h i n g s a r e t o g i v e t h e v i s i t o r an u n d e r s t a n d i n g
o f t h e a r e a and o f t h e new environment i n w h i c h
he f i n d s h i m s e l f and t o p r o v i d e h i m w i t h t h e
reasons b e h i n d t h e r e g u l a t i o n s w h i c h a r e des i g n e d t o p r o t e c t h i m and & o u t d o o r
reI b e l i e v e t h i s i s t h e most
c r e a t i o n area.
i m p o r t a n t j o b t h e "man o n t h e ground" can do,
and i t i s h i s j o b - - i t c a n ' t b e l e f t t o s i g n s
and handouts.
H a v i n g been t h e "man o n t h e ground1' f o r
t h e p a s t f i v e y e a r s , I would l i k e t o s h a r e
some o f my o b s e r v a t i o n s on t h e s u b j e c t o f
vandalism.
A c t u a l l y , most o f what f o l l o w s
a r e q u e s t i o n s more t h a n o b s e r v a t i o n s - - q u e s t i o n s f o r w h i c h I d o n ' t p r e t e n d t o have answers.
Why i s i t t h a t a w e l l - m a i n t a i n e d r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t y seems t o b e more o r l e s s f r e e
o f vandalism? I have seen areas t h a t were i n
good c o n d i t i o n s t a y t h a t way o v e r l o n g p e r i o d s
o f time.
A t t h e f i r s t s i g n o f vandalism, howe v e r , almost t o t a l d e s t r u c t i o n f o l l o w e d i n a
v e r y s h o r t - p e r i o d o f t i m e . Can a l i t t l e c l e a n i n g compound and elbow g r e a s e a t t h e f i r s t s i g n
o f r e s t r o o m a r t p r e v e n t a r e p a i n t i n g j o b a few
months l a t e r ? Would a b l o w t o r c h , used t o p r o duce some a r t i f i c u a l e x f o l i a t i o n o f t h e r o c k
under t h e f i r s t "John l o v e s Mary," p r e v e n t a
s c e n i c a r e a from becoming an o u t d o o r t a b l o i d
A good
c r e a t e d i n s p r a y p a i n t ? I t h i n k so.
maintenance program t h a t takes c a r e o f t h e
l i t t l e t h i n g s b e f o r e t h e y become m a j o r p r o b lems w i l l s o l v e some o f o u r v a n d a l i s m problems.
How many times has t h e reader seen p o s t e d
r e g u l a t i o n s t h a t were s y s t e m a t i c a l l y i g n o r e d
by r e c r e a t i o n a l v i s i t o r s & enforcement p e r s o n n e l ? I have seen i t - - t h a n k God, n o t o f t e n .
Does t h i s s i t u a t i o n l e a d t o a l o w e r i n g o f
t h e v a l u e o f a l l r e g u l a t i o n s i n t h e mind o f
t h e v i s i t o r ? Does t h i s o b v i o u s contempt f o r
t h e posted r e g u l a t i o n l e a d t o vandal ism? I
b e l i e v e t h a t i f we p o s t a r e g u l a t i o n we s h o u l d
e n f o r c e i t , o r i n t e r p r e t i t t o g a i n compl i a n c e ,
o r t a k e i t down--we s h o u l d never i g n o r e i t .
I r e c a l l a s i t u a t i o n i n w h i c h we were j u s t
a s k i n g f o r vandalism.
We had a pump house,
somewhat removed f r o m t h e camoground, t h a t had
f r o s t e d r e i n f o r c e d g l a s s windows.
The windows
were c o n s t a n t l y b e i n g broken.
This vandalism
had a p a t t e r n ; one t h a t I d i d n ' t see.
First
a s m a l l h o l e w o u l d be b r o k e n i n one o f t h e
windows, presumably so someone c o u l d see
what was i n s i d e .
(There was n o t h i n g i n s i d e
e x c e p t an e l e c t r i c pump.)
Then, i n a few
days a l l o f t h e windows would be b r o k e n and
we would have t o r e p l a c e them, always w i t h
frosted, reinforced glass.
C o u l d n ' t we have
p u t i n one pane o f c l e a r g l a s s and avoided
t h e whole problem by a f f o r d i n g t h e o r i g i n a l
c u r i o u s v i s i t o r h i s l o o k i n s i d e ? Are t h e r e
o t h e r s i t u a t i o n s t h a t would l e n d themselves
t o t h i s k i n d o f s o l u t i o n ? I f indeed t h i s
would have been a s o l u t i o n , why w a s n ' t i t
tried?
Perhaps t h e N a t i o n a l Park S e r v i c e has
found t h e u n i q u e s o l u t i o n t o t h e problem o f
vandal ism. We have a t E l Morro N a t i o n a l
Monument an e n t i r e a r e a s e t a s i d e t o p r e s e r v e vandal ism. Wedcall t h i s p a r t i c u l a r
vandalism "history,"
however.
I n c i s e d upon
a r o c k y b l u f f a t El Morro a r e t h e names and
today's aspirants f o r immortality.
They must remember t h a t they a r e
n o t Don Onates, and t h e year i s n o t
1605.
Requirements and v a l u e s s h i f t
w i t h t h e years.
s e n t i m e n t s o f many o f t h e e a r l y e x p l o r e r s o f
t h e Southwest, d a t i n g back t o Don Onates i n
1605. A d d i t i o n a l "vandalism" i s n o t wanted
a t E l Morro o r as Freeman ~ i l d e ni n~ h i s book
The N a t i o n a l Parks p u t s i t :
-
The v a l u e s o f some people have n o t changed,
however, and t h e r e i n may be t h e s o l u t i o n o f
t h e problem o f vandalism.
We need t o f i n d a
way t o b r i n g t h e values o f some o f o u r v i s i t o r s
up t o date.
Maybe we can do i t b y t a l k i n g t o
them, o r by s t r i c t enforcement o r by
what?
No f u r t h e r names, addresses, o r t e l e phone numbers, e i t h e r on E l Morro
o r on any o t h e r n a t u r a l o r manmade
f e a t u r e i n t h e N a t i o n a l Park System,
are desired.
T h i s may seem odd t o
...
T i l d e n , Freeman.
1951. The n a t i o n a l p a r k s :
What they mean t o you and me. 417 p.
Alfred
Knopf, New York.
I d o n ' t know t h e answer, b u t I do know
we c a n ' t a f f o r d t o w a i t 200 years so we can
c a l l vandal ism h i s t o r y .
Vandalism in California State Parks
Thomas Miller1
The d i c t i o n a r y d e f i n e s vandalism as " t h e
w i l l f u l d e s t r u c t i o n o r defacement o f a r t i s t i c
works, o r p r o p e r t y i n g e n e r a l . "
A few examples
o f v a n d a l i s m a r e defaced s i g n s , broken windows,
w a l l p a n e l s k i c k e d o u t o f restrooms, g r a f f i t i
p a i n t e d on w a l l s , wooden s t r u c t u r e s d e s t r o y e d
o r used f o r f i r e w o o d , h i s t o r i c a r t i f a c t s p a i n t e d
o r m u t i l a t e d , and v e h i c l e s damaged. The l i s t
can go o n and on.
The purpose behind t h e
a c t o f v a n d a l i s m i s o f t e n d i f f i c u l t t o recognize.
I w i l l e x p l o r e some motives l a t e r o n i n
t h i s paper.
To g e t t o t h e whys o f vandalism, l e t ' s
l o o k a t who t h e vandals a r e .
"Kids--you b e t t e r
b e l i e v e i t ! The k i d s a r e k n o c k i n g us a p a r t . "
True? Not n e c e s s a r i l y .
" I t ' s t h e e t h n i c groups
from downtown, t h a t bunch o f people t h a t cf
even speak E n g l i s h , they a r e t h e ones t h a t do
t h e damage."
T h a t s t a t e m e n t i s n ' t any more
t r u e t h a n t h e one about t h e k i d s . The f a c t i s
we c a n ' t p i n t h e t a g o f vandals on any p a r t i c u l a r segment o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n .
As an example,
I have w i t n e s s e d p e o p l e f r o m t h e " e s t a b l i s h m e n t "
(you remember t h a t term--over 30, l i v e i n a
house they a r e b u y i n g , e t c . ) d o i n g t h i n g s t h a t
r e s u l t e d i n t h e defacement o r d e s t r u c t i o n o f
p r o p e r t y - - p r o p e r t y t h a t was n o t t h e i r own-p u b l i c p r o p e r t y . T h a t meets t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f
VANDALISM.
I s p e c i f i c a l l y r e c a l l a man o f about 30,
Area Manager, S t a t e o f Cal i f o r n i a , Department
o f Parks and R e c r e a t i o n , H u n t i n g t o n Beach,
California.
c u t t i n g h i s i n i t i a l s i n t o a tree.
The t r e e ,
by t h e way, was so s c r i b e d w i t h i n i t i a l s t h a t
i t was d y i n g from t h e c u t s , j u s t as though
someone had g i r d l e d t h e t r u n k .
The man was
w i l l f u l l y d e s t r o y i n g t h e t r e e , an a c t o f vandalism.
Upon my q u e s t i o n i n g , he t o l d me i n no
u n c e r t a i n terms t h a t he was n o t d o i n g a n y t h i n g
wrong! T h i s i s an i l l u s t r a t i o n o f p a r t o f o u r
problem.
Many vandals may n o t even r e c o g n i z e
t h a t they a r e vandals.
Who then a r e t h e vandals? We may a l l
be vandals a t one t i m e o r a n o t h e r , depending
on o u r impact upon t h e p r o p e r t y around us as
we go through o u r d a i l y r o u t i n e .
I f what we
do r e s u l t s i n damage o r d e s t r u c t i o n o f p r o p e r t y ,
we have v a n d a l i z e d .
What about t h e w i l l f u l
p a r t ? Vandalism i s work: some a c t s t a k e more
energy than most people a r e w i l l i n g t o expend w h i l e e a r n i n g wages on t h e i r j o b s .
They
a r e n ' t b e i n g p a i d t o v a n d a l i z e - - w h a t t h e y do
i s v o l u n t a r y and w i l l f u l .
Who a r e t h e v a n d a l s ? Anyone who i s s t r o n g
enough and o l d enough t o do something t h a t defaces o r d e s t r o y s t h e p r o p e r t y o f o t h e r s .
T h a t ' s most o f us. When many p e o p l e a r e capa b l e o f b e i n g vandals, i t ' s no wonder t h a t
vandalism i s a b i g problem.
Because v a n d a l i s m
i s an a c t t h a t r e s u l t s i n t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f
p r o p e r t y , and a l m o s t everyone i s c a p a b l e o f
c o m m i t t i n g an a c t o f vandalism, t h e b i g quest i o n i s why?
Some e x p e r t s have demonstrated t h a t vand a l i s m r e s u l t s f r o m t h e need f o r r e c o g n i t i o n .
Good r e s u l t s i n r e d u c i n g v a n d a l i s m have been
a c h i e v e d a t Grape Elementary School i n Watts
through a program des igned t o p r o v i d e p o s i t i v e
r e c o g n i t i o n f o r a l l o f the students.
This i s
an approach beyond my a b i l i t y t o e x p l o r e
and develop.
I am hopeful t h e p s y c h o l o g i s t s
w i l l c o n t i n u e w o r k i n g a l o n g these l i n e s and
e v e n t u a l l y suggest ways t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e
i n d i v i d u a l ' s need f o r r e c o g n i t i o n .
Some causes o f v a n d a l i s m a r e l e s s c l e a r l y
connected w i t h t h e need f o r r e c o g n i t i o n .
S e l f i s h n e s s i s h i g h on t h e l i s t .
Selfi s h acts o f t e n occur i n t h e quest f o r
firewood.
The a c t o f v a n d a l i s m i n c l u d e s r e d u c i n g items t o a s i z e t h a t w i l l f i t i n
the f i r e .
A n y t h i n g made o f wood i s t h e t a r g e t , and s i g n s , p o s t s , d o o r s , f o o d l o c k e r
s h e l v e s , and w a l l panels a r e examples.
The
t r e e s and undergrowth i n t h e camping areas
are a l s o s a c r i f i c e d i n the quest f o r f u e l .
Another example o f t h e s e l f i s h m o t i v e f o r
v a n d a l i s m can be observed i n areas o f h i s t o r i c
interest.
Photographers have been known t o
p a i n t o v e r p i c t o g r a p h s so they w i l l p r o v i d e
enough c o n t r a s t t o show a g a i n s t r o c k backgrounds.
H i s t o r i c p i c t o g r a p h s have been
d e s t r o y e d t h r o u g h such a c t s o f vandalism.
Unauthorized digging i n archeological s i t e s
destroys the s t o r y o f events.
A r t i f a c t s , once
removed, become o n l y c o n v e r s a t i o n p i e c e s i n
t h e hands o f u n t r a i n e d p e o p l e who have
s e l f i s h l y d e p r i v e d o t h e r s o f enjoyment.
R e t a l i a t i o n i s a n o t h e r reason b e h i n d
vandalism.
Acts o f r e t a l i a t i o n a r e t y p i c a l l y
t h o s e t h a t happen i n t h e d a r k o f n i g h t .
The
l i f e g u a r d tower t h a t was chopped down and t h e
b u i l d i n g w i t h a l l o f t h e windows knocked o u t
a r e examples.
I t i s the vandalism o f r e t a l i a t i o n t h a t we i n t h e f i e l d can do t h e most
about.
I t r e p r e s e n t s o u r p u b l i c image
barometer.
I f we have a s i g n i f i c a n t amount
o f r e t a l i a t o r y v a n d a l i s m we have a s i g n i f i c a n t
pub1 i c image problem.
How can you t e l l i f t h e
vanda 1 i sm was r e t a l i a t o r y ? I t i s n o t d f f i c u l t;
t a k e a l o o k a t what y o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n d d
I t i s amazing how t h e vanda i sm
yesterday.
correlates w i t h arrests o r other enforc
ment a c t s .
For example, i n one a r e a we know
t h a t a l l o f t h e windows would be b r o k e n o u t
o f o u r e n t r a n c e s t a t i o n s whenever enforcement
a c t i o n was taken a g a i n s t a l o c a l group.
I'm
n o t p r o p o s i n g t h a t we t u r n away f r o m c o n t r o l l i n g the negative actions o f v i s i t o r s w i t h
t h e r e s u l t t h a t one group i n f r i n g e s on t h e
r i g h t s o f others.
I am s a y i n g t h a t i f vand a l ism i s t h e r e s u l t o f a l a c k o f r e s p e c t ,
then t o lose t h e respect o f v i s i t o r s w i l l
increase the vandalism r a t e ; t h e opposite
i s o f course trueÑgai
the respect o f
v i s i t o r s and reduce v a n d a l i s m problems.
To
focus on v a n d a l i s m i s t o focus on t h e
r e l a t i o n s h i p between t h e users and t h e
agency t h a t manages t h e l a n d .
What does v a n d a l i s m c o s t ? I t i s n o t
easy t o p u t a d o l l a r v a l u e on i t . We know
t h a t i n one a r e a t h e c o s t t o r e p a i r damage
caused by vandals was $2,330 d u r i n g t h e summer
o f 1975. That f i g u r e does n o t t r u l y r e p r e s e n t
t h e c o s t s o f v a n d a l i s m because t h e l o s s o f
a v a i l a b i l i t y o f the f a c i l i t i e s t o o t h e r people
cannot be c a l c u l a t e d .
N e i t h e r can t h e p e r manent l o s s o f r e s o u r c e s such as t r e e s ,
understory brush, s o i I , o r h i s t o r i c a r t i f a c t s
b e r e p r e s e n t e d by a d o l l a r amount.
The c o s t s o f v a n d a l i s m a r e g o i n g up
every day, a l o n g w i t h t h e i n c r e a s e d d e s i r e o f
the p u b l i c t o u t i l i z e p u b l i c property.
The
c o s t s a r e t o o h i g h f o r us t o c h a l k up as t h e
expected c o s t o f p r o v i d i n g f o r p u b l i c need.
We have a r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o a t t e m p t t o reduce
t h e c o s t by a t t e m p t i n g t o reduce t h e r a t e o f
vandalism.
Vandalism in a City Park
Richard Sarnpl
A g r e a t deal o f so-called vandalism i s
caused by a c c i d e n t and i s n o t r e a l l y v a n d a l i s m
at all.
The t e r m "vandalism" i s a marvelous
c a t c h a l l f o r p u b l i c apathy, ignorance, l a c k o f
concern and/or i n t e l l e c t u a l l a z i n e s s .
D i r e c t o r o f R e c r e a t i o n and Maintenance,
City o f Placentia, California.
I n P l a c e n t i a , t h e o n l y vandals a r e t h e
d e s i g n e r s , s p e c i f i e r s , and i n s t a l l e r s who p r o v i d e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e so-called vandalism
t o o c c u r , and o v e r t h e years I must i n c l u d e mys e l f as one o f these.
Seventy-five percent of
what i s l a b e l e d "vandalism" i n t h e c i t y o f P l a c e n t i a could be prevented through design.
The
r e m a i n i n g 25 p e r c e n t i s ma1 i c i o u s and unaccountable.
We f e e l t h a t v a n d a l i s m i s an a t t i t u d e and
i s c o n t r o l l a b l e f o r t h e most p a r t . Our r e c o r d s
show t h a t t h e wanton and m a l i c i o u s d e s t r u c t i o n
i s o f t e n done by groups, u s u a l l y young males i n
t h e 14 t o 16 age group. We have a l s o n o t e d t h a t
t h i s age group h o l d s t h e l a r g e s t number o f school
d r o p o u t s and o t h e r s who e n t e r t h e mainstream o f
a d u l t l i f e unprepared t o a c t a c c o r d i n g t o a d u l t
r u l e s , and t o o young t o b e g i v e n t h e s t a t u s t h a t
w o u l d go w i t h compliance.
D e s t r u c t i o n i n t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f a need,
and an i n t e r p r e t i v e l o o k a t t h e m o t i v a t i o n s b e h i n d
t h e s e k i n d s o f v a n d a l i s m may open t h e door t o
innovative solutions.
I have t a k e n t h e l i b e r t y
o f c l a s s i f y i n g vandal ism i n t h e c i t y o f P l a c e n t i a
i n s i x categories2.
I would l i k e t o s h a r e t h e s e
w i t h you:
I . Vandal ism o f o v e r u s e - - T h i s t y p e o f
v a n d a l i s m can t a k e many forms.
You can swinq
o n l y so many t i m e s u n t i l t h e c h a i n wears out.
How many k i d s can s i t on a bench? How many b a l l s
can go through a hoop? And t h e merry-go-round
has o n l y so many t u r n s .
2.
C o n f l i c t vandalism--This i s the r e a c t i o n
t o a t o t l o t b u i l t i n the middle o f a baseball
f i e l d , a concrete climber b u i l t on the basketb a l l c o u r t , a f e n c e where a g a t e s h o u l d be, and
I t i s t h e exgrass where k i d s want t o w a l k .
p r e s s i o n o f k i d s d o i n g what i s l o g i c a l and most
n a t u r a l and/or most a p p r o p r i a t e t o them r e g a r d less o f the designer's intent.
I t may b e a t r e e
p l a n t e d where k i d s want t o p l a y b a l l o r i t may
b e t h e p e r f e c t p l a c e t o use f o r second base o r
t o s w i n g on t h e way t o t h i r d - - a t r e e b r e a k s and
''vandals" a r e blamed. Vandalism may be t h e t r e e
b r a n c h t o o low t o w a l k u n d e r , t o o l o n g t o w a l k
around, o r j u s t t h e r i g h t h e i g h t t o swing on.
3. Leverage v a n d a l i s m - - T h i s u s u a l l y p r e v a i l s d u r i n g b a s e b a l l season.
I t ' s finding a
hole o r a s l o t j u s t the r i g h t size t o pry w i t h
a b a s e b a l l b a t . The b a t i s s t u c k i n a h o l e , t h e
b o a r d i s p r i e d l o o s e from t h e bench, t h e l o o s e
b o a r d i s then c a r r i e d t o t h e j u n g l e gym, where
i t i s propped on t h e b a r s t o f o r m a c a n t i lever.
I t i s t h e c o n c r e t e t r a s h can which
c o u l d n ' t p o s s i b l y b e s t o l e n , b u t o f course,
i t a l s o c a n ' t be e m p t i e d because i t weighs t o o
much, e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r t h e removable s t e e l
l i n e r has been c a r r i e d away.
I f i t doesn't
work as a t r a s h can, maybe i t can be used as
a b a t t e r i n g ram.
4.
C u r i o s i t y v a n d a l i s m - - T h i s i s t h e answer t o what i s b e h i n d t h e locked door o r b e h i n d
t h e s p r i n k l e r c o n t r o l l e r o r under t h e manhole
V. M i c h a e l Weinmayer.
1973. Vandalism by
Design, A C r i t i q u e .
I n Reflections i n the reDavid Gray, ed.
c r e a t i o n and p a r k movement.
Wm. C. Brown Company.
cover.
I t i s t h e a c t o f jamming a s t i c k i n t h e
d r i n k i n g f o u n t a i n t o see how h i g h t h e w a t e r w i I I
s q u i r t , p l u g g i n g a d r a i n t o see how h i g h t h e
w a t e r w i l l r i s e , p u l l i n g up a t r e e t o see what
t h e r o o t s l o o k l i k e , and t a k i n g a p a r t t h e p l a y ground c l i m b e r t o check t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n .
5. I r r e s i s t i b l e t e m p t a t i o n vandalism-T h i s i s w r i t i n g on a s h i n v p a i n t e d s u r f a c e w i t h
a magic marker o r r i d i n g a b i c y c l e t h r o u g h t h e
b i g mud p u d d l e i n t h e new lawn where t h e d r a i n age i s improper.
I t i s c l i m b i n g o u t on a t r e e
b r a n c h t o see how f a r i t w i l l bend o r t h r o w i n g
a b o t t l e against a concrete w a l l .
I t i s picki n g f l o w e r s o r unscrewing t h e b e a u t i f u l b r a s s
t h i n g on t o p o f t h e f o u n t a i n because i t f i t s so
n i c e l y i n t h e palm o f o n e ' s hand.
-
6. The n o - o t h e r - w a y - t o - d o - i t
vandalism-T h i s i s whv t h e b i c v c l e i s leaned up a g a i n s t t h e
t r e e when t h e r e i s no b i c y c l e r a c k .
I t i s throwi n g papers and b o t t l e s on t h e ground when t h e r e
i s no t r a s h can and u s i n g t h e sand box when t h e r e
i s no r e s t r o o m o r when, worse y e t , t h e r e s t r o o m
i s locked.
I t i s s i t t i n g on t h e f e n c e and hangi n g y o u r j a c k e t on a t r e e .
D u r i n g t h e years, we have found t h a t many
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , faced w i t h f i n d i n g s o l u t i o n s t o
vandalism, expressed t h e i r r e a c t i o n i n two
classic attitudes.
The " b a s t i l l e " approach i s
b u i l d i n g something so s t r o n g , so massive, and
so s i m p l e t h a t k i d s c o u l d n ' t p o s s i b l y t e a r i t
down.
I t ' s j u s t t o make s u r e , e r e c t i n g a h i g h
f e n c e so t h e k i d s can p l a y o n l y when a d m i n i s t r a t o r s l e t them, and i f t h e equipment s t i l l
g e t s broken, l o c k i n g t h e g a t e s .
The "zero" approach p r o v i d e s n o t h i n g ,
t h e r e f o r e there i s nothing t o break.
Put
up a f e n c e w i t h no g a t e s , pave t h e a r e a b u t
d o n ' t p l a n t t r e e s o r grass.
We i n P l a c e n t i a f e e l t h e o n l y s o l u t i o n i s
a c r e a t i v e approach.
I t i s t o t r y t o understand
a c h i l d i n search o f d i v e r s i o n a f t e r s c h o o l , t o
a n t i c i p a t e t h e a l t e r n a t i v e s and o p p o r t u n i t i e s
open f o r overuse, c o n f l i c t i n g uses, o r misuse
o f p l a y g r o u n d environments.
P o s s i b l e s o l u t i o n s f o r some o f t h e var i e t i e s o f v a n d a l i s m w h i c h I have spoken about
include:
1 . P r o v i d e s u f f i c i e n t equipment t o d i s courage o v e r u s e
2.
B u i l d a p a t h where t h e k i d s w a l k , p r o v i d e a g a t e n e x t t h e h o l e i n t h e fence.
Plant
more t r e e s and p r o v i d e a way t o r u n t h r o u g h t h e
f l o w e r beds so k i d s and p l a n t s can grow t o g e t h e r
3. Unlock t h e g a t e s o r remove them s o
t h e y w o n ' t b e t o r n down, p r e v e n t t h e g a t e f r o m
becoming a swing
4. Check and remove l o o s e boards and s t r a y
items used as l e v e r s and hammers
5.
Mount t r a s h cans on p o l e s ,
when damaged and empty when f u l l
replace
6. Use t i m b e r s , d i f f i c u l t t o w r i t e on,
b u t can accommodate g r a f f i t i , and t h e y mellow
w i t h age
7. B i c y c l e s s h o u l d have racks and p e o p l e
s h o u l d have benches
8. I n s t a l l wrought i r o n fences t o cont r o l cross c i r c u l a t i o n .
T h i s use w i I1 h e l p
s t o p k i d s from running i n t o the s t r e e t b u t w i l l
n o t cause problems by c a t c h i n g windblown d e b r i s
Vandalism i n P l a c e n t i a has been a problem.
We do n o t have t h e answers.
The t h i n g t h a t we
have l e a r n e d t h e h a r d way i s t h a t t h e r e i s no
such t h i n g as a m a i n t e n a n c e - f r e e p a r k - - m a i n t a i n a b l e , yes, b u t n o t maintenance-free.
We have
e n v i r o n m e n t a l impact r e p o r t s .
Every development contemplated s h o u l d a l s o have a maintenance impact r e p o r t t h a t i d e n t i f i e s areas
and items w h i c h r e q u i r e maintenance and w i l l
c o s t money o v e r t h e years.
Parks need c a r e
e v e r y day, improvements e v e r y y e a r , and m a j o r
r e h a b i l i t a t i o n about e v e r y 5 y e a r s .
Kids i n
P l a c e n t i a do n o t d e s t r o y what they want, l i k e ,
and use.
Vandalism in Organized Camps in California
Patrick
The American Camping A s s o c i a t i o n i n C a l i f o r n i a r e p r e s e n t s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 500 member agency camps, p r i v a t e independent camps, and churcha f f i l i a t e d camps.
Annually the Association prov i d e s o r g a n i z e d camping o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r app r o x i m a t e l y 1.2 m i l l i o n young C a l i f o r n i a n s and
an a d d i t i o n a l 500,000 a d u l t s use member f a c i l i t i e s d u r i n g t h e o f f season.
During t h e past three years, according t o
i n s u r a n c e c a r r i e r s , d o l l a r l o s s e s due t o vandalism have been m i n i m a l , w i t h l e s s t h a n 1 p e r c e n t
o f t h e t o t a l membership r e p o r t i n g s u b s t a n t i a l
do1 l a r l o s s e s . T h i s t r e n d appears t o be cons i s t e n t even w i t h i n c r e a s i n g exposure due t o
i n c r e a s i n g e n r o l l m e n t s and programs u t i l i z i n g
f a c i l i t i e s on a year-round basis.
The m a j o r
p r o b l e m f a c i n g camp o p e r a t o r s i s c o p i n g w i t h
V i c e - p r e s i d e n t , S o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a Campi n g A s s o c i a t i o n , N o r t h Ridge, C a l i f o r n i a .
C. ~ i c k s o n l
vandal ism a p p e a r i n g i n two f o r m s : ( I ) E x t e r n a l
Forces: v a n d a l i s m done d u r i n g nonscheduled
times by " o u t s i d e r s " and ( 2 ) I n t e r n a l F o r c e s :
abuse o f f a c i l i t i e s d u r i n g o r g a n i z e d programs.
The member camps o f t h e American Campi n g A s s o c i a t i o n have m i n i m i z e d d o l l a r losses
due t o v a n d a l i s m by s u b s c r i b i n g t o r i g i d acc r e d i t a t i o n s t a n d a r d s w h i c h r e q u i r e sound s i t e
p l a n n i n g and sound a d m i n i s t r a t i v e procedures i n
t h e o r g a n i z e d camp and camping program.
Furthermore, a h i g h p e r c e n t a g e o f member camos
have engaged f u l l t i m e o n s i t e c a r e t a k e r s t o
p a t r o l and a c t as a d e t e r r e n t t o p o s s i b l e
t h r e a t from external vandals.
I n t e r n a l l y , memb e r camps have i n s t i t u t e d ongoing e d u c a t i o n a l
programs f o r t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s , emphasizing and
p r o v i d i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s and e x p e r i e n c e s f o r
d e v e l o p i n g awareness and a p p r e c i a t i o n o f t h e
interdependence o f a l l l i v i n g and n o n l i v i n g
r e s o u r c e s and a sense o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r
them.
LAW ENFORCEMENT Photo: East Bay Regional Park District
Vandalism and Law Enforcement on National Forest Lands Thomas A. ~ o o t s l
Vandalism on N a t i o n a l F o r e s t l a n d s , as
w e l l as on o t h e r l a n d i n b o t h pub1 i c and p r i v a t e ownership, i s r e l a t i v e l y new. The campgrounds and f a c i l i t i e s on F o r e s t l a n d have
been open t o t h e pub1 i c on a s e l f - s e r v i c e
b a s i s as l o n g as t h e F o r e s t s have been i n
existence.
Up u n t i l t h e mid-19601s, a camper
c o u l d l e a v e equipment and food r e a d i l y v i s i b l e
t o any passersby w i t h o u t f e a r o f l o s s .
Signs
c o u l d be e r e c t e d i n campgrounds w i t h f u l l
knowledge t h a t t h o s e s i g n s would remain i n
good c o n d i t i o n u n t i l such t i m e as t h e weather
might fade t h e colors.
The w o r s t v a n d a l i s m
t h a t o c c u r r e d i n t h e N a t i o n a l F o r e s t s was
caused b y b e a r s .
I can r e c a l l s i t t i n g i n
meetings s i m i l a r t o t h i s one, t r y i n g t o f i g u r e
o u t what we c o u l d do t o m i n i m i z e bear damage.
Bears a r e s t i l l around, b u t we c e r t a i n l y d o n ' t
spend much t i m e t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e v a n d a l i s m o r
d i f f i c u l t i e s they create.
The c u r r e n t problems a r e people, n o t a11
people, b u t j u s t a v e r y smal 1 m i n o r i t y o f
p e o p l e who have c r e a t e d a c o n d i t i o n among t h e
N a t i o n a l F o r e s t s t h a t i s c a u s i n g g r e a t concern.
Who a r e t h e s e p e o p l e ? What has changed
t h a t makes i t a l l r i g h t t o d e s t r o y $336,000
w o r t h o f improvements i n t h e f o u r s o u t h e r n
C a l i f o r n i a F o r e s t s ? What r i g h t have t h e s e
p e o p l e t o d e p r i v e t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c o f 26,000
v i s i t s t o a N a t i o n a l f o r e s t t o e n j o y a camping
e x p e r i e n c e ? Y e s - - f a c i l i t i e s f o r 26,000 v i s i t s
c o u l d have been b u i l t and m a i n t a i n e d w i t h t h e
d o l l a r s spent i n r e p l a c i n g damaged and d e s t r o y ed improvements. What c o s t can be p l a c e d on
p a i n t e d r o c k s and c a r v e d o r chopped t r e e s ?
A change has o c c u r r e d s i n c e t h e 1 9 5 0 ' s .
D u r i n g t h e 19601s, a new g e n e r a t i o n d i s c o v e r e d
t h e g r e a t o u t - o f - d o o r s and w i t h i t t h e N a t i o n a l
F o r e s t s . T h e i r c u l t u r e developed i n t h e c i t i e s
It
and was f o r e i g n t o t h e p a r k s and f o r e s t .
was marked by l a z i n e s s , s o f t n e s s , and d i s r e spect.
P r e s i d e n t Kennedy i d e n t i f i e d t h e problem t o some e x t e n t and encouraged p h y s i c a l
F o r e s t k c r e a t i o n O f f i c e r , San Bernard i n o
N a t i o n a l F o r e s t , F o r e s t S e r v i c e , U. S. Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e , San B e r n a r d i n o , Cal i f o r nia.
f i t n e s s programs. There i s much d i s c u s s i o n now
about t h e a p p a r e n t d e s t r u c t i o n caused by t h e
I o f t e n wonder how i t comtimber industry.
pares w i t h t h a t i n r e c r e a t i o n a r e a s caused by
t h e tremendous i n c r e a s e i n use we have r e c e n t l y
experienced.
We know some t h i n g s about t h e s e new u s e r
groups. We know t h a t t h e y a r e young and c i t y
o r i e n t e d . We know many l a c k t h e know-how o r
awareness o f how t o t r e a t n a t u r e . We see an
increase o f users from c u l t u r e s o t h e r than
Anglos and f r o m low-income groups. We see
p e o p l e who have been s o l d o n an o u t d o o r experience by salesmanship f o r new p r o d u c t s f o r use
i n t h e open.
From 1968 t o 1973, I was a D i s t r i c t Ranger
a t Pinecrest on t h e Stanislaus National Forest.
I t i s about 50 m i l e s n o r t h o f Yosemite N a t i o n a l
Park, and i s p a r t o f one o f t h e most h e a v i l y
used o f t h e N a t i o n a l F o r e s t s . D u r i n g t h i s
time, t h e changes i n u s e r groups became c l e a r .
P r o b a b l y t h e most s p e c t a c u l a r e v i d e n c e came i n
Yosemite Park where Park Rangers o n horseback
c o n f r o n t e d hundreds o f " h i p p i e s " i n a meadow.
The r e s u l t s , b e s i d e s many a r r e s t s , were i n j u r i e s , a dead horse, and a d e s t r o y e d meadow.
What caused t h e c o n f r o n t a t i o n w i t h b a t o n s w i n g i n g Rangers? The u n l a w f u l use o f t h e
meadow f o r a camping s p o t .
Sounds s i l l y ? To
t h e h i p p i e s , t h e r i g h t t o camp t h e r e was w o r t h
f i g h t i n g f o r , and t o t h e Rangers, k e e p i n g t h e
campers o u t o f t h e r e was necessary t o s u p p o r t
t h e p r i n c i p l e t h e p a r k s were e s t a b l i s h e d f o r - t h e p r o t e c t i o n and p r e s e r v a t i o n o f a u n i q u e
national heritage.
A t P i n e c r e s t , we were faced w i t h s i m i l a r
problems, b u t were f o r t u n a t e i n b e i n g a b l e t o
see and l e a r n f r o m t h e P a r k ' s problems. We saw
r i o t s , numerous a r r e s t s , and d e s t r u c t i o n o f
property.
We made some s t u d i e s o f t h e s e problems, which i n c l u d e 109 i n c i d e n t s o f v a n d a l i s m
i n 1970 a l o n e .
We found t h a t 62 p e r c e n t o f t h e
i n c i d e n t s were caused by p e o p l e under 21 y e a r s
o l d . A l s o , we found t h a t v a n d a l i s m and t h e f t s
o c c u r r e d between t h e hours o f 10 and 11 A.M.,
These i n c l u d e d
2 t o 4 P.M., and 8 t o 11 P.M.
o n l y t h e i n c i d e n t s f o r which we had enough i n f o r m a t i o n t o make a r e c o r d . Cond i t i o n s have
changed, b u t v a n d a l i s m i s s t i l l h e r e and even
i n c r e a s i n g . The new u s e r groups a r e a l s o s t i l l
here,
though n o t as easy t o i d e n t i f y .
On t h e San B e r n a r d i n o N a t i o n a l F o r e s t , we
a r e f i n d i n g t h a t vandal ism problems a r e o c c u r r i n g more f r e q u e n t l y d u r i n g p e r i o d s o f low use,
o n weekends, and d u r i n g t h e o f f - s e a s o n , when
t h e f a c i l i t i e s a r e untended. We a l s o see
h i g h e r vandal ism o c c u r r i n g i n a r e a s more
h e a v i l y used by low-income groups, and i n a r e a s
w i t h i n 30 m i n u t e s o f v a l l e y communities.
A p r i m e example o f t h i s t y p e o f vandal ism
o c c u r r e d l a s t month i n a campground a b o u t an
hour f r o m t h e San B e r n a r d i n o Val 1ey. The campground was c o m p l e t e l y r e b u i l t l a s t f a l l i n a
cooperative v e n t u r e o f t h e Southern C a l i f o r n i a
A s s o c i a t i o n o f Four-wheel -Dr i v e Clubs. The
campground i s a l o n g a d i r t r o a d and was t h e n
c o v e r e d w i t h a b o u t 6 inches o f snow. About
t h r e e g r o u p s o f young p e o p l e were camped t h e r e ,
most o f them t e e n a g e r s w i t h no a d u l t s u p e r v i s ion.
Someone had sawn t h e wooden b a r r i e r
r a i l s i n t o f i r e w o o d s i z e s and had a l s o t a k e n a
t a b l e t o p a p a r t and sawn i t up. There was
f r e s h e v i d e n c e o f sawdust i n t h e snow. A t a l l
t h r e e campsites, b u r n t o r burning p a r t s o f the
b a r r i e r s and t a b l e s were i n t h e f i r e p l a c e s .
When we q u e s t i o n e d members o f t h e groups, n a t u r a l l y a l l o f them d e n i e d any knowledge o f how
t h e wood was c u t .
They s a i d t h e y f o u n d i t l y i n g t h e r e , c u t up.
From a l a w enforcement
s t a n d p o i n t , even though c i r c u m s t a n t i a l e v i d e n c e
s t r o n g l y i n d i c a t e d t h a t someone i n t h o s e camps
was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e
r a i l s , b a r r i e r s , and t a b l e t o p s , we c o u l d do
nothing.
To keep campgrounds open, i n such a s i t u a t i o n , means h a v i n g c a r e t a k e r s p r e s e n t t o a s s u r e
the protection o f the f a c i l i t i e s .
Unfortunatel y , i t i s c o s t l y t o p u t c a r e t a k e r s i n campI t i s a l m o s t imgrounds w i t h minimum use.
p o s s i b l e t o e f f e c t i v e l y c l o s e o f f t h e campgrounds, because t h i s w o u l d r e q u i r e c l o s i n g
many o f t h e main r o a d s and highways w i t h i n t h e
Forest.
A s t r o n g , t o u g h l a w enforcement program i s
needed t o m i n i m i z e t h e v a n d a l i s m problem a s
we1 l as t o p r o v i d e some f e e l i n g o f s e c u r i t y f o r
t h e r e c r e a t i o n i s t . We need t o be c a u t i o u s ,
however, t h a t we do n o t penal i z e t h e honest
user by p r e s e n t i n g him w i t h complicated o r r e s t r i c t i v e r e q u i r e m e n t s t h a t d e s t r o y h i s experience.
The a v e r a g e p e r s o n w o n ' t mind some i n c o n v e n i e n c e i f h e knows i t w i l l p r o v i d e him
w i t h s e c u r i t y f o r h i s f a m i l y and p r o t e c t i o n
against theft.
One t r a p w h i c h r e c r e a t i o n managers must
a v o i d i s becoming "cops" and f o r g e t t i n g t h e
p r i m e purpose o f t h e i r j o b s .
I n o t h e r words,
"When you a r e up t o y o u r w a i s t i n a l l i g a t o r s i t
i s easy t o f o r g e t y o u r o b j e c t i v e was t o d r a i n
t h e swamp."
Speaking f r o m e x p e r i e n c e , I found
m y s e l f i n 1969 and 1970 c h a s i n g p o t u s e r s and
m i n o r s w i t h a l c o h o l i c beverages, and deal i n g
w i t h n u d i t y problems and even grand t h e f t ,
rape, s u i c i d e , and murder. There was a f i n e
l i n e between problems a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e r e c r e a t i o n u s e r s and t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e and j u s t
p l a i n law enforcement problems.
I had t o c r o s s
t h a t l i n e b e f o r e I r e c o g n i z e d where i t was.
As we examine vandal ism o n N a t i o n a l F o r e s t lands, we tend t o c o n c e n t r a t e on t h e l a r g e
developed f a c i l i t i e s .
An a r e a o f i n c r e a s i n g
importance and i n c r e a s i n g use w h i c h i s o f t e n
o v e r l o o k e d i s b a c k c o u n t r y . When s p e a k i n g o f
b a c k c o u n t r y , we f r e q u e n t l y t h i n k o f w i l d e r n e s s ,
b u t I am r e f e r r i n g t o any minimum-development
area.
T h i s means road- o r t r a i l - a c c e s s a r e a s
p r i m a r i l y b u t c o u l d be any a r e a .
Here v a n d a l ism i s r e a l l y a s e r i o u s problem.
There i s v i r t u a l l y no way t o s t o p t h e d e s t r u c t i v e f o r c e .
F o r t u n a t e l y , t h o s e who a r e b e n t o n d e s t r u c t i o n
do n o t v i s i t t h e s e a r e a s f r e q u e n t l y u n l e s s
t h e r e a r e roads. The s i g n s c e r t a i n l y r e f l e c t
this.
Some o f t h e improvements v a n d a l i z e d a r e
p i t - t y p e t o i l e t s , signs (great targets f o r the
mar,ksman), n a t u r e t r a i l s and w a t e r d e v e l o p ments. The b e a u t y o f t h e f o r e s t i t s e l f i s a l s o
destroyed.
How can t h e s e a r e a s be p r o t e c t e d ?
Now, when t h e y a r e d e s t r o y e d , we f r e q u e n t l y
remove t h e improvements.
I n one campground
where a replacement t o i l e t was s h o t up w i t h i n
6 months, and t h e t a b l e s were s t o l e n , c u t up,
o r burned, we j u s t c l o s e d t h e a r e a .
Hundreds
o f v i s i t o r days o f p u b l i c use were l o s t . The
pub1 i c i s p a y i n g f o r t h e vandal ism i n more t h a n
dollars.
How can we measure t h e l o s s i n veget a t i o n caused by c u t t i n g down, c a r v i n g o r chopping trees, o r by the worst o f enemies--fire?
The $336,000, p r e v i o u s l y mentioned, does n o t
b e g i n t o measure t h e v a r i o u s t y p e s o f monetary,
e s t h e t i c , and e m o t i o n a l l o s s e s .
IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM
We have d i s c u s s e d t h e e v i d e n c e .
Now what
has been o r c a n be done? Many methods have
p r o v e n s u c c e s s f u l f o r i n d i v i d u a l problems and
many more have p r o v e n u n s u c c e s s f u l .
Before
l o o k i n g a t some i n d i v i d u a l s o l u t i o n s , we s h o u l d
f i r s t l e a r n t h e components o f t h e problem. A l l
i n s t a n c e s o f vandal ism a r e n o t t h e same. We
should s t a r t a s k i n g q u e s t i o n s :
I . What was t h e r e s u l t o f t h e a c t i o n - what was damaged o r d e s t r o y e d ?
2.
Who i s c a u s i n g t h e problem--what i s
t h e age g r o u p o f u s e r s , where do t h e y come
from?
3. When does t h e problem o c c u r - - n i g h t
t i m e , weekdays, o f f season? Can a t i m e o f day
be i d e n t i f i e d ?
4. Why does i t o c c u r ?
f r u s t r a t i o n , boredom?
FINDING SOLUTIONS
D i s r e s p e c t , anger,
5. A r e t h e f a c i l i t i e s d e s i g n e d t o m i n i mi ze vandal i sm?
The v a r i o u s t e c h n i q u e s f o r r e d u c i n g vand a l i s m can be c l a s s i f i e d i n t h r e e b a s i c c a t e gories:
pub1 i c a s s i s t a n c e , d i r e c t c o n t r o l , and
engineering.
Publ i c A s s i s t a n c e
Some o f t h e s e q u e s t i o n s may be e a s i l y answered, b u t what a b o u t t h e more d i f f i c u l t ones?
I am a b e l i e v e r i n p u b l i c i n v o l v e m e n t .
Public
i n v o l v e m e n t may be t i m e consuming and may n o t
answer a l l o f o u r q u e s t i o n s , b u t I f e e l i t i s
o u r most p r o m i s i n g o p p o r t u n i t y t o f i n d answers.
Go t o t h e u s e r g r o u p s and r a p w i t h them a b o u t
w h a t ' s g o i n g on.
Spend some t i m e w i t h t h e
g r o u p s who a r e suspected o f c r e a t i n g most o f
the d i f f i c u l t i e s .
L i s t e n t o t h e i r suggestions.
Understand what i s i m p o r t a n t t o them.
Learn
t h e i r values.
Seek t h e c o o p e r a t i o n o f t h e
u s e r s n o t o n l y i n s t u d y i n g t h e problems b u t i n
r e p a i r i n g some o f t h e damage o r i n d e s i g n i n g
new p r o t e c t i v e d e v i c e s .
C o n s i d e r t h e c u l t u r a l d i f f e r e n c e s between
u s e r g r o u p s and t h e i r r e l a t i o n t o f a c i l i t y design.
The most o u t s t a n d i n g d i f f e r e n c e I am
aware o f i s i n t h e t y p i c a l f a m i l y u n i t d e s i g n .
Almost 100 p e r c e n t o f t h e San B e r n a r d i n o F o r e s t
campgrounds a r e d e s i g n e d as s i n g l e f a m i l y
u n i t s , c a p a b l e o f s e r v i n g 5 t o 8 p e r s o n s a t one
time.
The Mexican-American f a m i l y t y p i c a l l y
c o n s i s t s o f t h e immediate f a m i l y , t h e r e l a t i v e s ,
and a few f r i e n d s , and can i n c l u d e 3 t o 5 v e h i c l e s and 1 0 t o 20 p e o p l e .
What happens when
t h e y a r r i v e ? They a l l must crowd i n t o t h e
f a m i l y u n i t , w h i c h means removing t h e b a r r i e r
o r d r i v i n g o v e r i t . The l a r g e numbers o f peop l e c a n ' t h e l p b u t t r a m p l e t h e v e g e t a t i o n . The
campground becomes crowded, r u i n i n g t h e e x p e r iences o f o t h e r s , and t h e f a c i l i t i e s a r e o v e r used f o r t h e i r d e s i g n .
When t h e Ranger a r r i v e s ,
he h a s s l e s t h e g r o u p f o r h a v i n g t o o many p e o p l e
and f o r t h e m i s - p a r k e d v e h i c l e s ; he e i t h e r asks
them t o move o r w r i t e s them a c i t a t i o n .
The
g r o u p g e t s mad and s t o p s c a r i n g f o r t h e f a c i l i ty.
They may l e a v e , b u t t h e y l e a v e b e h i n d
I i t t e r and b r o k e n f a c il i t i e s , and everyone has
had a n unhappy e x p e r i e n c e .
I s t h i s sequence o f e v e n t s n e c e s s a r y ? I t
o c c u r s because we a r e n o t p r o v i d i n g a d e s i g n t o
meet t h e needs o f a l l t h e u s i n g p u b l i c , w i t h a
r e s u l t f r e q u e n t l y c l a s s i f i e d as vandal ism.
C l e a r , c o n c i s e s i g n i n g i s p a r t o f t h e same
problem.
Where a r e t h e b i l i n g u a l s i g n s ? I n
s o u t h e r n Cal i f o r n i a , r e c o g n i z i n g t h e d i f f e r e n t
needs o f d i f f e r e n t c u l t u r e s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e
needs o f t h e S p a n i s h - s p e a k i n g p e o p l e s , i s a
must.
A pub1 i c a s s i s t a n c e program t e n d s t o i n c r e a s e t h e u s e r ' s enjoyment o f t h e a r e a by p r o v i d i n g a f e e l i n g o f s e c u r i t y and i n c r e a s i n g
user understanding o f f a c i l i t i e s , a c t i v i t i e s ,
and t h e e n v i r o n m e n t .
P r o v i d i n g maps and b r o c h u r e s i s p r o b a b l y
t h e f i r s t s t e p i n t h i s process and has been
used a t many a r e a s f o r a l o n g t i m e .
These
s h o u l d be p r i n t e d b i l i n g u a l l y where n o n - E n g l i s h
speaking c u l t u r e s compose a s i g n i f i c a n t p a r t o f
t h e u s e r group.
People i n e x p e r i e n c e d i n t h e
use o f E n g l i s h m i s i n t e r p r e t s t a t e m e n t s even
though t h e y can read t h e words.
Signs, p r e f e r a b l y symbol s i g n s , c e r t a i n l y
a i d i n m i n i m i z i n g c o n f u s i o n and l o w e r i n g f r u s t r a t i o n levels.
Where s i g n i n g may be d i f f i c u l t
o r expensive, t h e use o f r a d i o s w i t h l i m i t e d
range t r a n s m i s s i o n w h i c h c a n be r e c e i v e d o n
a u t o m o b i l e r a d i o s can h e l p . Again, use b i l i n g u a l messages.
I n f o r m a t i o n s p e c i a l i s t s , who a r e b i l i n g u a l
where a p p r o p r i a t e , can p r o v i d e some p e r s o n a l
t o u c h and promote f a c i l i t y s e c u r i t y by t h e i r
presence.
I n l i e u o f manned s t a t i o n s , we1 l designed and d i s p l a y e d b u l l e t i n boards and
k i o s k s p r o v i d e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r expanding t h e
u s e r ' s knowledge.
A t P i n e c r e s t , we developed p o s i t i o n s
c a l l e d Public Assistance O f f i c e r s .
These r e c r e a t i o n a i d s were g i v e n p u b l i c c o n t a c t t r a i n i n g ,
i n f o r m a t i o n on q u e s t i o n s commonly asked, f i r s t
a i d t r a i n i n g , and law enforcement t r a i n i n g .
T h e i r j o b was t o work w i t h t h e p u b l i c and t o
t a k e a f i r m hand when and where necessary.
They had d i r e c t c o n t a c t w i t h t h e r e s i d e n t deput y s h e r i f f t h r o u g h s p e c i a l r a d i o s . These p e r sons enabled us t o a c h i e v e s u c c e s s f u l c o n t r o l
o f a d i f f i c u l t s i t u a t i o n p r i n c i p a l l y because
they took the time t o t a l k t o t h e users.
Another program w h i c h h e l p e d was "Pack-in,
Pack-out" w h i c h was used i n t h e b a c k c o u n t r y .
Personal p l a s t i c garbage bags were p r o v i d e d ,
w i t h t h e r u l e s i m p r i n t e d i n a c o l o r f u l and a r t i s t i c manner.
These bags e l i m i n a t e d a l a r g e
amount o f l i t t e r and a l l o w e d 15 t o 20 garbage
cans t o be removed.
P r e v i o u s l y , many o f t h e
cans had t o be r e p l a c e d a n n u a l l y because t h e y
were s h o t , s t o l e n , o r o t h e r w i s e d e s t r o y e d . Cont e s t s proved s u c c e s s f u l among t h e younger people.
One w h i c h has been g o i n g o n f o r 3 years
i s t h e pop-top c h a i n .
The p e r s o n w i t h t h e
l o n g e s t c h a i n g e t s a Smokey Bear p a t c h .
Direct Controls
D i r e c t c o n t r o l s a r e t h o s e which impose
some f o r m o f c o n t r o l o v e r t h e u s e r . These a r e
f r e q u e n t l y e f f e c t i v e b u t t h e y a l s o t e n d t o des t r o y t h e designed r e c r e a t i o n e x p e r i e n c e i f n o t
done c a u t i o u s l y and w i t h some t h o u g h t .
Perhaps t h e most p o p u l a r c o n t r o l i s t h e
e n t r a n c e s t a t i o n . The N a t i o n a l Park S e r v i c e
has been u s i n g t h i s form o f c o n t r o l f o r many
years.
E n t r a n c e s t a t i o n s do n o t have t o be
elaborate.
I once used a n o l d out-house, r e p a i n t e d and s l i g h t l y redesigned.
I n some areas,
g a t e s w h i c h a r e c l o s e d a t 10 P.M. have been
used; t h e s e p r o h i b i t t h e e n t r a n c e o f people who
a r e n o t a c t u a l l y camping on t h e s i t e .
The San Bernardino, as w e l l as o t h e r Nat i o n a l F o r e s t s , i s u s i n g permanent c a r e t a k e r s
i n t h e campground.
These c a r e t a k e r s u s u a l l y
occupy t h e f i r s t camp u n i t , and 1 i v e i n a
t r a i l e r w h i c h remains f o r t h e season.
They
c o l l e c t f e e s , process r e s e r v a t i o n s , do some
f a c i l i t y cleanup, and p r o v i d e s e c u r i t y .
The
Inyo F o r e s t i s p r e s e n t l y seeking v o l u n t e e r s ,
from among t h e r e t i r e d s e n i o r c i t i z e n s , t o f i l l
t h e s e p o s i t i o n s . As v o l u n t e e r s , t h e c a r e t a k e r s
r e c e i v e a u n i f o r m , some t r a i n i n g , and expense
money b u t no wages. They sometimes work i n
s i t e s a l s o c o n t r o l l e d by e n t r a n c e s t a t i o n s .
User p e r m i t s , such as t h o s e issued f o r
wilderness areas, p r o v i d e a c e r t a i n psychologic a l c o n t r o l because t h e agency has t h e u s e r ' s
name and address and t h e u s e r i s g i v e n a s p e c i -
f i e d t i m e t o use t h e a r e a .
He i s even d i r e c t e d
t o t h e e x a c t s p o t he i s p e r m i t t e d t o use.
Engineering
E n g i n e e r i n g i n c l u d e s t h e d e s i g n and construction o f facilities.
Design p l a y s a major
role.
I t i n c l u d e s t h e b a s i c campground l a y o u t
(camp l o o p s , s i z e o f u n i t s , l o c a t i o n o f s i g n s ,
garbage cans, r e s t rooms, and e n t r a n c e s t a t i o n s )
as w e l l as t h e a c t u a l d e s i g n o f a g i v e n f a c i l i ty.
For example, i n i s o l a t e d l o c a t i o n s , r o c k s
o r cement b a r r i e r s may be used i n l i e u o f easi l y d e s t r o y e d wooden b a r r i e r s and r a i l s .
In
one camp, we have r e s o r t e d t o c o n c r e t e bunkers
f o r restrooms because t h e s t a n d a r d ones were
r e p e a t e d l y d e s t r o y e d . These a r e c e r t a i n 1 y n o t
meeting o u r v i s u a l qua1 i t y o b j e c t i v e s , b u t t h e
t o i l e t s a r e a v a i l a b l e and a r e o n l y b e i n g p a i n t ed w i t h names and some c h o i c e phrases, r a t h e r
Our e n g i n e e r s and l a nd
than being destroyed.
scape a r c h i t e c t s p l a y a v a l u a b l e r o l e i n des i g n ,
b u t t h e y must a l s o u n d e r s t a n d t h e o b j e c t i v e s o f
a r e c r e a t i o n experience.
-
SUMMARY
The v a n d a l i s m problem i s d e f i n i t e l y a d i f f i c u l t one t o s o l v e .
I t h i n k each U n i t Manager
has t o examine h i s own problems and h i s own
u s e r s , seek p u b l i c involvement, and d e v e l o p sol u t i o n s t h a t a r e adapted t o t h e p a r t i c u l a r area.
Through t h i s symposium, each o f us w i l l a c q u i r e
a s o - c a l l e d "bag o f t r i c k s , " f r o m w h i c h we can
s e l e c t t h e one t h a t a p p l i e s t o o u r p a r t i c u l a r
a r e a . Through c o n c e r t e d e f f o r t and w o r k i n g
w i t h t h e u s e r , I t h i n k t h a t we can reduce t h e
vandal ism i n c i d e n t s .
For me, however, law enforcement, t h e "cop" approach, i s o u r l e a s t desirable alternative.
P r e v e n t i o n , t h r o u g h user
involvement, should be o u r f i r s t aim.
Vandalism: The California State Park Approach
Jerry ~ o r r i s o n l
The Cal i f o r n i a Department o f Parks and
R e c r e a t i o n has a h i s t o r y o f s e t t i n g a n example
o f how t o approach c r i m i n a l i n c i d e n t s , i n c l u d i n g vandalism.
I n 1968, t h e L e g i s l a t u r e ,
t h r o u g h t h e C a l i f o r n i a Peace O f f i c e r s Standards
and T r a i n i n g Commission, requested a s t u d y o f
Law Enforcement and S a f e t y O f f i c e r , S t a t e o f
Cal i f o r n i a , Department o f Parks and R e c r e a t i o n ,
G o l e t a , Cal i f o r n i a .
c r i m e i n S t a t e p a r k s . On t h e s t u d y g r o u p ' s
recommendation, s i x p e o p l e were h i r e d f o r t h e
s i x d i s t r i c t s o f o u r Department. These p e o p l e
were chosen f o r t h e i r e x p e r t i s e i n p o l i c e s e r v i c e , and t h e i r a n t i c i p a t e d approach t o t h e
incidence o f offenses w i t h i n t h e parks.
I'm
one o f t h e s i x ; my area i s D i s t r i c t 5, w h i c h
extends from Santa Barbara County t o Orange
County and from t h e ocean e a s t t o t h e A r i z o n a California line.
I d e a l w i t h two dozen l a w enforcement agencies w i t h i n those b o u n d a r i e s .
The s i x p e o p l e chosen f o r t h i s s p e c i a l
d u t y began a l m o s t i m m e d i a t e l y t o improve t h e
t r a i n i n g o f t h e Rangers i n a p p r o a c h i n g law enforcement s i t u a t i o n s .
T h i s t r a i n i n g has been
c o n t i n u e d and enhanced; t h e Rangers now r e c e i v e
t h e f u l 1 amount recommended f o r p o l icemen a t
o u r academy i n Monterey. Many c a r r y weapons i n
t h e i r d a i l y r o u t i n e , n o t by c h o i c e , b u t because
i s has been found necessary. We recommend a
s o f t approach t o law enforcement; however, a
f i r m one.
We recommend h i g h v i s i b i l i t y .
We
want t h e Rangers t o be seen, b u t we do n o t want
them t o be o p p r e s s i v e .
We want them t o app r o a c h problems b e f o r e t h e y develop, i f p o s s i b l e , and t o t a l k w i t h t h e p e o p l e t o t r y t o est a b l i s h a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h them, t r y t o e s t a b l i s h some u n d e r s t a n d i n g by them o f why we have
o u r r u l e s , and t r y t o educate them about what
these r u l e s a r e .
We a r e h e r e concerned w i t h t h e e x p l i c i t
a c t o f v a n d a l i s m . Vandalism i s d e f i n e d as
wanton d e s t r u c t i o n ; i t i s a c r i m i n a l o f f e n s e .
Again, i t i s an o f f e n s e o f n e g l i g e n c e as o f t e n
as n o t - - l i k e n o t s t o p p i n g a t a s t o p s i g n i n a
t r a f f i c situation.
I t can b e an o f f e n s e o f i g norance, l i ke n o t s t o p p i n g f o r a r e d l i g h t because one i s c o l o r b l i n d .
I t can be v i n d i c t i v e n e s s towards what has o c c u r r e d i n t h a t
p l a c e o r maybe a r e a c t i o n a g a i n s t a symbol o f
a u t h o r i t y o r t h e system.
I t can be a s o c i a l
t h i n g , a need f o r r e c o g n i t i o n f o r a c u l t u r e o r
an i n d i v i d u a l p e r s o n a l i t y , such as d r a w i n g a
symbol o n t h e restroomÑ
symbol t h a t i d e n t i f i e s t h e i n d i v i d u a l and h i s p e r s o n a l i t y . T h i s
i s n o t r e a l l y an endeavor t o damage, n o t an
i n t e n t i o n t o h u r t , b u t an a c t o f s e e k i n g ident i f i c a t i o n . T h e r e f o r e , we f i n d t h a t v a n d a l i s m
can be negl igence, ignorance, v i n d i c t i v e n e s s ,
o r self-expression o r a l l o f these.
We a r e a l s o concerned w i t h t h e dimensions
o f t h e p r o b l e m and how t o measure i t
We have
t o guess. We can guess o n t h e b a s i s o f d a t a ,
b u t t h i s i s f a u l t y , and I can e x p l a i n why.
The
most r e c e n t FBI U n i f o r m Crime Report was f o r
t h e y e a r 1974.
I t s t a t e d t h a t 7000 a r r e s t s f o r
vandal ism i n r u r a l a r e a s i n t h i s c o u n t r y were
reported during t h a t year.
However, v a n d a l i s m
a r r e s t s a r e n o t easy t o make.
For each a r r e s t
t h e r e a r e many, many o f f e n s e s t h a t a r e commited
by persons unknown.
Data p r o v i d e d by t h e Fede r a l Bureau o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n shows t h a t t h e age
o f persons a r r e s t e d f o r vandal ism ranges f r o m
v e r y young t o q u i t e o l d , and t h e r e i s a s i g n i f i c a n t l y l a r g e g r o u p between t h e ages o f 13 and
14 y e a r s . A t t e m p t s a r e made t o measure vandalism by t h e amount o f money we spend f o r r e p a i r .
My department budgets $50,000 p e r y e a r ; however,
we had $87,000 damage r e p o r t e d i n 1975.
I
would say t h a t a minimum o f d o u b l e t h a t amount
i s t h e t r u e f i g u r e : we p r o b a b l y s u f f e r o v e r
$180,000 vandal ism damage p e r y e a r i n o u r department.
I base t h i s on t h e f a c t t h a t no one
l i k e s t o make r e p o r t s .
I n o u r system, t h e r e i s
one c r i m e r e p o r t t o be made on t h e vandal ism
.
i t s e l f and a n o t h e r t o r e c o v e r t h e money f o r t h e
damage. Many o f o u r p e o p l e say, "Oh, f i x i t
and f o r g e t i t , " r a t h e r t h a n t a k e t h e t i m e t o
make t h e r e p o r t s .
I n o t h e r p l a c e s , some may
say i n e f f e c t , "As l o n g as we d o n ' t r e p o r t
problems, p e o p l e w i l l t h i n k we have i t under
c o n t r o l and w e ' l l b u i l d a g r e a t r e p u t a t i o n . "
A
great reputation--yes--but
things a r e g e t t i n g
r i p p e d o f f ; i t ' s l i k e t h e sea e a t i n g away a t a
c l i f f u n t i l a s h o r e l i n e house f a l l s i n t h e
d r i n k , and t h e n i t ' s t o o l a t e .
What do we do a b o u t vanda l i sm? What
a c t i o n do we t a k e ? I must a d m i t t h a t I have
committed an a c t i n a Federal f o r e s t t h a t c o u l d
I moved a r o c k so
be c o n s t r u e d as vandal ism.
t h a t I c o u l d p a r k my camper i n a l o c a t i o n t h a t
I deemed b e t t e r . The r e g u l a r p a r k i n g p l a c e was
i n b r i g h t , h o t sun. The r o c k was p r e v e n t i n g me
f r o m moving t o where i t was shady, so I moved
t h e r o c k and parked i n t h e shade.
My p o i n t i s
t h a t t h e c a m p s i t e should have been designed t o
t a k e t h e campers needs i n t o a c c o u n t .
I t i s not
enough t o s i m p l y s e t r o c k s around and say t o
t h e camper, "Park t h e r e . "
Good d e s i g n would
see t o i t , f o r example, t h a t p e o p l e g o i n g t o a
day use a r e a d o n ' t go t h r o u g h a campground t o
g e t t h e r e . Why n o t ? Because a f t e r t h e y have
been t h e r e , e n j o y e d t h e i r p i c n i c , and d r u n k a
few b e e r s , i f t h e y must l e a v e t h r o u g h t h e campground, and i f t h e r e i s something t h e r e t h a t i s
n o t u e i n g guarded, tney can j u s t p i c k i t up.
Furthermore, they f i n d a handy p l a c e t o t h r o w away t h e i r b e e r cans as t h e y pass t h r o u g h .
We s h o u l d have o u r p e o p l e i n t h e use a r e a
where t h e y can be seen and can be t a l ked t o
when v i s i t o r s a r e t h e r e . Make guards o r c a r e takers v i s i b l e .
Have them t a l k t o t h e p e o p l e
b e f o r e t r o u b l e b e g i n s . H e l p them t o understand
what t h e r u l e s a r e , and why t h e y a r e needed.
I n summing up, 1 be1 i e v e a w i d e s e l e c t i o n
o f d i s c i p l i n e s a r e needed t o uncover s o l u t i o n s
t o t h e v a n d a l i s m problem.
H o p e f u l l y , we can
i d e n t i f y some new approaches, some a c t i o n s t h a t
w i l l h e l p us i n t h i s e x e r c i s e i n waste.
Vandalism a t Red Rock
John C. ~ i n o l a n d e r l
Vandalism c a l l s a r e an everyday
e x p e r i e n c e f o r a law enforcement o f f i c e r .
Usually a c t s o f vandalism a r e perpetrated
by juveniles.
Vandalism, a l o n g w i t h a l l .
o t h e r c r i m e s , i s on t h e i n c r e a s e .
Last
y e a r , t h e l a r g e s t r i s e i n c r i m e was i n t h e
r u r a l a r e a s , where we saw an i n c r e a s e o f
21 p e r c e n t .
Vandalism i s n o t new t o o u r
modern s o c i e t y .
I t has been a problem i n
o u r c i t i e s and towns f o r c e n t u r i e s .
The
t e r m v a n d a l i s m i s d e r i v e d f r o m Vandals, a
Germanic p e o p l e who sacked Rome i n 455 A.D.
The l e g a l d e f i n i t i o n o f v a n d a l i s m i s " w i l l f u l o r ma1 i c i o u s d e s t r u c t i o n , i n j u r y , d i s f i g u r e m e n t , o r defacement o f p r o p e r t y w i t h o u t consent o f t h e owner o r person h a v i n g
custody o r c o n t r o l . "
This crime i s classi f i e d as a misdemeanor, and i s p u n i s h a b l e
by a f i n e , a s h o r t t e r m i n j a i l , o r b o t h .
Vandals can s t r i k e a t any l o c a t i o n .
However, t h e i r f a v o r i t e t a r g e t s have been
c i t y s c h o o l s and p a r k s .
I n t h e p a s t 10
y e a r s , t h e monetary l o s s f r o m a c t s o f vand a l i s m has r i s e n t o 3 t o 4 b i l l i o n d o l l a r s
a year.
As e v e r y v i c t i m and e v e r y law
enforcement o f f i c e r knows, i t i s o f t e n ext r e m e l y d i f f i c u l t t o apprehend vandals.
Many c i t i e s have d e v i s e d i n n o v a t i v e
methods t o p r e v e n t and d e t e c t vandalism,
o n l y t o f i n d t h a t methods t o c i r c u m v e n t
d e t e c t i o n a r e q u i c k l y devised i n t u r n .
Expensive e l e c t r o n i c sensors and c l o s e d c i r c u i t t e l e v i s i o n systems have been
i n s t a l l e d , b u t w i t h o n l y m a r g i n a l success
i n many areas.
As an e x p e r i m e n t , Washingt o n , D.C. i n s t a l l e d $365,000 w o r t h o f
sodium vapor l i g h t i n g equipment i n c e r t a i n
areas.
They were rewarded w i t h a 22 p e r c e n t r e d u c t i o n i n vandalism.
Washington
has g r e a t l y i n c r e a s e d t h e a r e a covered
by t h e i r sodium vapor l i g h t i n g program.
T h i s i s a p p a r e n t l y one method t h a t has
met w i t h success.
Although vandalism i s not a t a l l
new t o t h e c i t i e s o f o u r U n i t e d S t a t e s ,
i t has become a new and e v e r - i n c r e a s i n g
Sergeant, County o f Santa Barbara,
S h e r i f f ' s Department, Santa Barbara,
Cal i f o r n i a
problem i n t h e N a t i o n a l F o r e s t s and Parks.
I n t h e Santa Barbara D i s t r i c t o f t h e Los
Padres N a t i o n a l F o r e s t , t h e r e i s an a r e a
known n a t i o n a l l y among young p e o p l e as "Red
Rock."
T h i s canyon a r e a has a 1 0 - m i l e w i n d i n g s t r e t c h o f two l a n e rough road a l o n g t h e
Santa Ynez R i v e r .
The r i v e r i s surrounded by
rugged mountains, and e n t r y t o much o f t h e area
i s r e s t r i c t e d d u r i n g t h e summer months because
o f t h e extreme f i r e danger.
The o f f i c i a l name
o f t h e a r e a i s "The Lower Santa Ynez Recreational District."
There a r e t e n campgrounds,
o f w h i c h t h r e e a r e f o r daytime use o n l y , and
seven a r e f o r o v e r n i g h t use.
The area i s designed t o accommodate a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4000 p e r sons f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l day use, and a maximum
o f o n l y 1500 f o r o v e r n i g h t camping.
Over t h e
l a s t 6 years, i n t h i s small area, b o t h day and
o v e r n i g h t use has i n c r e a s e d phenomenally.
On
heavy-use weekends d u r i n g t h e summer months
o v e r t h e p a s t few y e a r s , as many as 15,000
p e o p l e e n t e r e d t h e canyon on a s i n g l e day.
The
crowds h e a v i l y o v e r l o a d e d t h e f a c i l i t i e s and
the reasonable c a p a b i l i t y o f the t e r r a i n t o
s u p p o r t use.
Along w i t h t h e i n c r e a s e d use cane
a l a r g e r i s e i n c i t y - t y p e problems, and c i t y t y p e c r i m e ~ t r a f f i cc o n g e s t i o n , f a m i l y f i g h t s ,
drunkenness, n a r c o t i c s use, s h o o t i n g s , t h e f t s ,
r o b b e r y , and a s s a u l t , a l o n g w i t h l i t t e r p o l l u t i o n , and a t r a g i c upsurge i n v a n d a l i s m .
Here a r e o n l y a few examples o f what has
o c c u r r e d i n t h e small r e c r e a t i o n a r e a o f "Red
Rock" :
Spray p a i n t i n g o f c l i f f s , r o c k s , t o i l e t s ,
s i g n s , t r e e s , and t a b l e s w i t h obscene words o r
p e r s o n ' s names
Chopping down o f t r e e s ,
s h r u b b e r y , and
s igns
Mutilation o f buildings, t o i l e t
f a c i l i t i e s , w a t e r p i p e s and w a t e r systems,
camp t a b l e s , s t o v e s , and a n y t h i n g e l s e
t h a t can be d e s t r o y e d
D e s t r u c t i o n o f v e g e t a t i o n by d r i v i n g
m o t o r c y c l e s and o t h e r v e h i c l e s t h r o u g h t h e
campsites and across t h e n a t u r a l c o u n t r y s i d e and s p i n n i n g t h e wheels o r s l i d i n g
s i d e w i s e (commonly known i n c i t y l i n g o a s
' y a r d farming")
Shooting o f holes i n b u i l d i n g s , t o i l e t s ,
t a b l e s , t r a s h b i n s , and t r e e s
d r i v e n o v e r , moved, and m u t i l a t e d .
Grim?
You b e t i t ' s g r i m ! The F o r e s t S e r v i c e
e s t i m a t e d t h a t d u r i n g t h e y e a r , i n t h i s small
area a l o n e , t h e r e was $25,000 damage t o t h e
recreational f a c i l i t i e s .
B u r n i n g o f a n y t h i n g i n s i g h t t h a t can
be chopped down and burned, i n c l u d i n g camp
t a b l e s and o t h e r f a c i l i t i e s
Campsites a r e expensive, m a t e r i a l and manhours f o r r e p a i r o r r e b u i l d i n g a r e expensive,
and p a t r o l t i m e f o r law enforcement i s expensive.
I s t h e r e an answer on how t o s o l v e t h i s
wanton d e s t r u c t i o n o f p r o p e r t y ? I d o n ' t know
t h e answer. We seem t o be l o s i n g t h e b a t t l e .
I n t h o s e we have apprehended f o r a c t s o f
vandalism, we have seen a s t r a n g e , d o n ' t - g i v e a-damn a t t i t u d e .
One group was caught i n t h e
a c t o f b u r n i n g t h e i r camp t a b l e i n t h e camp
s t o v e , p i e c e by p i e c e . T h e i r comment was
I t w a s n ' t w o r t h much anyway."
One man, chopp i n g down a l i v e t r e e , s t a t e s , "Well, how e l s e
can I g e t my camper backed n e x t t o t h e camp
t a b l e ? " A 2 8 - y e a r - o l d , who had b l o c k e d t h e
road by r o l l i n g l a r g e rocks across i t , s a i d ,
I t ' s t o o damned crowded, and I wanted t o keep
some o f those n u t s o u t o f here."
Two men
who were a r r e s t e d f o r s h o o t i n g i n t o an
o c c u p i e d t o i l e t f a c i l i t y s t a t e d , "Aw!
We were
j u s t h a v i n g a l i t t l e fun.
He d i d n ' t g e t h u r t . "
On a d a r k , moonless n i g h t , i n a crowded campground, one f e l l o w f i r e d 40 rounds f r o m h i s
30.06 r i f l e i n random d i r e c t i o n s .
He c l a i m e d
t h a t he had h e a r d ominous r u s t l i n g i n t h e
s u r r o u n d i n g bushes, and he t h o u g h t somebody
was g o i n g t o g e t him.
I n o r d e r t o h e l p m a i n t a i n t h e peace, and
t o p r e s e r v e t h e f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e Lower Santa
Ynez R e c r e a t i o n a l D i s t r i c t , t h e F o r e s t S e r v i c e
c o n t r a c t e d w i t h t h e Santa Barbara County Sheri f f ' s Department t o a s s i s t them.
Sheriff's
D e p u t i e s began w o r k i n g weekends d u r i n g t h e
summer months o f 1970. T h i s f i r s t summer, one
f u l l - t i m e Deputy and s e v e r a l r e s e r v e o f f i c e r s
p a t r o l l e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e area.
The r e c r e a t i o n a l p o p u l a t i o n increased, and t h e c r i m e
i n c r e a s e d t o a p o i n t t h a t i n 1975 i t was nece s s a r y t o have as many as t w e l v e Deputies
p a t r o l l i n g o n t h e weekends j u s t t o m a i n t a i n
an a c c e p t a b l e l e v e l o f o r d e r .
I t a l s o became necessary t o m a i n t a i n two t o f o u r f u l l t i m e p a t r o l m e n t h r o u g h o u t t h e w i n t e r months
because o f t h e i n c r e a s e i n mountain a r e a
use.
O f t h e methods used i n t h e Red Rock area
t o t r y t o stem t h i s t y p e o f vandalism, some
have proved t o be f a i r l y s u c c e s s f u l :
S h e r i f f ' s Deputies and F o r e s t p a t r o l m e n ,
i n u n i f o r m , d r i v i n g marked v e h i c l e s , p a t r o l
t h e campsites a t random times t h r o u g h o u t t h e
day and n i g h t hours
S h e r i f f ' s Deputies on f o o t , i n u n i f o r m ,
w a l k through t h e camps d u r i n g t h e day and n i g h t
hours a t unscheduled times
Deputies on horseback and on f o o t p a t r o l
t h e r i v e r banks and o u t - o f - t h e - w a y s p o t s where
campers congregate (horseback p a t r o l appeared
t o be a good p s y c h o l o g i c a l d e t e r r e n t t o a c t s
o f vanda 1 i sm)
Problem areas were s t a k e d o u t w i t h camera
equipment, t o t a k e photos o f vandals i n a c t i o n
so as t o apprehend them
'
I s a i d t h a t as many as t w e l v e Deputies
were r e q u i r e d t o m a i n t a i n an a c c e p t a b l e l e v e l
o f o r d e r . We were u n a b l e t o stem t h e a c t s o f
vandalism.
I n t h e summer o f 1974, t h e Santa
Ynez Campground, w h i c h p r o v i d e s n i c e , wideopen t r e e - c o v e r e d campsites w i t h t o i l e t
f a c i l i t i e s , camp t a b l e s , s t o v e s , and r u n n i n g
w a t e r , was damaged t o t h e p o i n t t h a t i t had
t o be c l o s e d .
I n 1975, summer campers d e s t r o y e d t h e
In
Red Rock Campground, and i t was c l o s e d .
b o t h t h e s e camps, t o i l e t s were smashed, t a b l e s
w e r e burned f o r f i r e w o o d , and s t e e l s t o v e s were
c u t f r o m t h e i r 2 1 / 2 - i n c h p i p e mounts and
s t o l e n . T r a s h cans were r u n o v e r o r s h o t up,
and some were a l s o s t o l e n .
Trees were chopped
down, and r o c k and wood camp b a r r i e r s were
The F o r e s t e s t a b l i s h e d a temporary check
s t a t i o n a t t h e e n t r a n c e t o t h e canyon.
Each
c a r was stopped, i t s l i c e n s e number recorded,
and t h e d r i v e r p r o v i d e d w i t h a copy o f t h e Fede r a l camp r e g u l a t i o n s
The F o r e s t t r i e d camp s i t t e r s who l i v e d ,
r e n t - f r e e , i n t r a i l e r s , and r e p o r t e d any suspicious a c t i v i t y
Enforcement o f t h e r u l e s and r e g u l a t i o n s ,
b o t h S t a t e and F e d e r a l , was used as a method
o f prevention.
S h e r i f f ' s D e p u t i e s issued app r o x i m a t e l y 1200 c i t a t i o n s , a r r e s t e d 350
people, w r o t e 800 c r i m e r e p o r t s , and i s s u e d
thousands o f v e r b a l warnings
I t i s very c l e a r t h a t vandalism i s a b i g
problem i n t h e N a t i o n a l F o r e s t .
I see no end
i n sight.
The p r o j e c t i o n s s t a t e t h a t an app r o x i m a t e 15 p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e i n use o f t h e
N a t i o n a l F o r e s t lands w i l l o c c u r each y e a r .
T h i s means more vandalism.
At t h e r a t e we are
s e e i n g t h e camp areas d e s t r o y e d , we may f a c e
l i m i t i n g camp use t o a s e l e c t few, o r c l o s i n g
campgrounds d u r i n g c e r t a i n p e r i o d s .
A s o l u t i o n t o t h e v a n d a l i s m epidemic must
be found.
Otherwise, i t w i l l soon mushroom
t o such outrageous p r o p o r t i o n s t h a t o u t door a c t i v i t i e s and camping i n o u r N a t i o n a l
F o r e s t s w i l l be o n l y a memory.
Law Enforcement and Vandalism in
Our National Parks
Nicholas ~ h e l a n l
N a t i o n a l Parks were e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s i n 1872, w i t h Y e l l o w s t o n e o u r
c o u n t r y ' s f i r s t p u b l i c p l e a s u r i n g ground.
From t h a t t i m e on, areas o f t h e N a t i o n a l Park
System have been b o t h e r e d t o a g r e a t e r o r
l e s s e r degree by problems o f vandalism.
Our
f i r s t v i s i t o r s shot Yellowstone's w i l d l i f e ,
c u t t r e e s , marked up o r t o r e down geyser
f o r m a t i o n s , and i n g e n e r a l a c t e d i n an i r r e s p o n s i b l e and s h o r t - s i g h t e d manner.
I n i t i a l l y we were a b s o l u t e l y powerless t o
s t o p any o f t h e s e a c t i o n s because we had no
p e o p l e i n charge and no laws (a common comp l a i n t amon3 many a j e n c i e s even t h e s e d a y s ) .
I f a P a r k was l u c k y , i t had a s u p e r i n t e n d e n t ,
assuming someone c o u l d be found who would work
f o r notiiincj, because t h a t was t h e pay f o r t h e
job.
I f a v i o l a t o r was a c t u a l l y caught d o i n g
something s e r i o u s l y wrong, t h e o n l y power
t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t had was t o p u t t h e person
o u t o f t h e Park. The problems became s o o v e r whelming t h a t i n 1886 t h e S e c r e t a r y o f t h e
I n t e r i o r asked t h e S e c r e t a r y o f War f o r h e l p ;
f o r t h e n e x t 30 y e a r s t h e army c o n t r o l l e d t h e
P a r k s - - n o t an i d e a l s o l u t i o n , b u t a t l e a s t
d u r i n g t h a t t i m e t h e s e areas were p r o t e c t e d .
I n 1894 Congress passed t h e f i r s t p r o t e c t i v e law f o r t h e Parks, an "Act t o P r o t e c t
t h e B i r d s and Animals i n Y e l l o w s t o n e N a t i o n a l
Park," and i n 1906 t h e A n t i q u i t i e s A c t was
passed t o p r o t e c t a r c h e o l o g i c a l s i t e s ; b o t h
o f t h e s e gave t h e Parks laws p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e
protection o f s p e c i f i c features.
I t was n o t u n t i l 1916, however, t h a t
t h e N a t i o n a l Park S e r v i c e was e s t a b l i s h e d , and
t h e e n a b l i n g a c t a l s o gave us a g e n e r a l idea,
f i n a l l y , a b o u t what t h e Park S e r v i c e was
l Park Ranger, Channel I s l a n d s N a t i o n a l
lonument, N a t i o n a l Park S e r v i c e , U. S.
Department o f t h e I n t e r i o r , Ventura,
California
-
supposed t o c o n s i d e r i m p o r t a n t , n i c e l y summed
up i n t h e s e few words, " t o conserve t h e scen e r y and t h e n a t u r a l and h i s t o r i c o b j e c t s and
t h e w i l d l i f e t h e r e i n and t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e
enjoyment o f t h e same i n such manner and by
such means as w i l l l e a v e them u n i m p a i r e d f o r
f u t u r e generations."
Now we have about 3W areas and a l m o s t
2000 permanent r a n g e r s ; we were v i s i t e d b y
m i l l i o n s o f persons l a s t y e a r , and i n v e s t i g a t e d thousands o f cases o f vandalism.
Our
N a t i o n a l Park S e r v i c e rangers a r e a u t h o r i z e d
by T i t l e I 8 o f t h e U.S. Code t o be F e d e r a l Law
Enforcement O f f i c e r s , and t h e laws p e r t a i n i n g
s p e c i f i c a l l y t o N a t i o n a l Park S e r v i c e areas
a r e c o n t a i n e d i n T i t l e 36 o f t h e Code o f Fede r a l R e g u l a t i o n s ( n a t u r a l l y , t h e s e a r e a l l mis
demeanor o f f e n s e s ) .
Our r o l e , i n o t h e r words,
i s much b e t t e r d e f i n e d t h a n i t was d u r i n g
those f i r s t few y e a r s a t Y e l l o w s t o n e and
Sequoia. N e v e r t h e l e s s , N a t i o n a l P a r k S e r v i c e
law enforcement remains a b i t e n i g m a t i c t o
many o u t s i d e o f t h e s e r v i c e because i t i s n o t
a b s o l u t e l y s t r u c t u r e d and c o n t a i n s s e v e r a l
variables.
F o r i n s t a n c e , o u r Park areas may b e qoverned by any one o f t h r e e d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f
jurisdiction.
Some Parks have " e x c l u s i v e ' '
j u r i s d i c t i o n , whereby F e d e r a l law i s t h e o n l y
law and F e d e r a l o f f i c e r s t h e o n l y law o f f i c e r s .
Most o l d e r Parks have t h i s t y p e o f j u r i s d i c t i o n ( o r a s l i g h t v a r i a t i o n o f i t ) . Most
o f t h e s e Parks were e s t a b l i s h e d b e f o r e t h e
S t a t e s t h e y a r e i n were a d m i t t e d , so i t ' s
easy t o see how t h i s t y p e o f j u r i s d i c t i o n
developed.
A second and q u i t e common t y p e i s "conc u r r e n t " j u r i s d i c t i o n , i n w h i c h t h e Parks a r e
governed b y Federal laws ( n o t j u s t t h e Code
8 Federal R e g u l a t i o n s b u t a l s o t h e U.S. code)
and by S t a t e laws e q u a l l y , and b o t h F e d e r a l
and S t a t e o f f i c e r s can e n f o r c e them.
Parks
w h i c h have t h i s t y p e o f j u r i s d i c t i o n f a l l under
t h e A s s i m i l a t i v e Crimes A c t , w h i c h means
t h a t laws o t h e r t h a n F e d e r a l laws w i t h i n t h a t
p a r t i c u l a r p o l i t i c a l area a r e a u t o m a t i c a l l y
a s s i m i l a t e d i n t o t h e laws o f t h a t Park.
Channel I s l a n d s N a t i o n a l Monument has
the t h i r d type o f j u r i s d i c t i o n , "proprietary,"
w h i c h i s i n many i n s t a n c e s t h e l e a s t d e s i r a b l e
o f the t h r e e from t h e viewpoint o f t h e Federal
o f f i c e r i n the field.
Under t h i s t y p e o f j u r i s d i c t i o n , t h e P a r k S e r v i c e has no more
power t h a n t h e owner o r p r o p r i e t o r o f any
o t h e r p i e c e o f land.
We may, as p r o p r i e t o r s ,
m o d i f y S t a t e laws t o make them more r e s t r i c t i v e , b u t we may n o t make them l e s s so.
The
one c o n c e s s i o n we have t o t h e f a c t t h a t o u r
r o l e d i f f e r s s l i g h t l y from t h a t o f other
landowners i s t h a t we may l e v y l e g a l punishments when o u r r u l e s a r e broken.
Within our
r u l e s , T i t l e 36 o f t h e Code o f F e d e r a l Regul a t i o n s , t h e r e a r e s e c t i o n s which enable the
Parks t o a s s i m i l a t e S t a t e f i s h i n g and motor
v e h i c l e laws and U.S. Coast Guard b o a t i n g
r e g u l a t i o n s . T h i s l e a v e s q u i t e a few laws
- - f o r i n s t a n c e , any S t a t e f e l o n y laws-w h i c h P a r k Rangers may n o t a c t upon w i t h
any more a u t h o r i t y t h a n t h a t o f a p r i v a t e
c i t i z e n . To r e c t i f y t h i s s i t u a t i o n , many
r a n g e r s i n Parks w i t h p r o p r i e t a r y j u r i s d i c t i o n
a r r a n g e t o have themselves d e p u t i z e d by t h e
local sheriff.
To r e t u r n t o t h e problem o f v a n d a l i s m
- - t h i s i s c o v e r e d under v a r i o u s s e c t i o n s o f
T i t l e 36 o f t h e Code o f F e d e r a l R e g u l a t i o n s
and i s h a n d l e d by a c i t a t i o n i f t h i s appears w a r r a n t e d .
The c i t a t i o n , a N a t i o n a l P a r k S e r v i c e form, can s p e c i f y t h a t t h e
v i o l a t o r e i t h e r appear i n c o u r t o r n o t ; i f
t h e c i t a t i o n does n o t s p e c i f y t h a t t h e
v i o l a t o r appear, he s t i l l has t h e r i g h t t o
do so, o r he may s i m p l y m a i l i n t h e b a i l
forfeiture.
This b a i l i s sent, i n our
case a t Channel I s l a n d s N a t i o n a l Monument,
t o t h e C e n t r a l V i o l a t i o n s Bureau o f t h e U.S.
D i s t r i c t C o u r t i n Los Angeles.
I f a viol a t o r wishes a h e a r i n g , however, he i s
d i r e c t e d t o t h e n e a r e s t U.S. m a g i s t r a t e .
I n most o f o u r v a n d a l i s m cases, t h e magi s t r a t e h e a r i n g f u n c t i o n s as t h e t r i a l , and
t h e Ranger who i s s u e d t h e c i t a t i o n has t h e
d u a l r o l e o f p r o s e c u t o r and p r o s e c u t i o n
witness.
N a t i o n a l P a r k S e r v i c e areas d i f f e r
g r e a t l y i n t h e amount o f v a n d a l i s m t h e y
receive.
I have had t h e p r i v i l e g e and
p l e a s u r e o f w o r k i n g a t some o f o u r more
remote a r e a s , i n c l u d i n g I s l e Royale N a t i o n a l Park, a 2 1 0 - s q u a r e - m i l e i s l a n d i n Lake
S u p e r i o r , and Katmai N a t i o n a l Monument, a
4200-square-mile w i l d e r n e s s i n Alaska.
I
have a l s o worked a t Joshua T r e e N a t i o n a l
Monument, a b e a u t i f u l d e s e r t a r e a n o r t h o f
Palm S p r i n g s .
Joshua T r e e has a l a r g e
number o f v i s i t o r s , e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e s p r i n g
and f a l l , and most o f them, i t seems, a r e f r o m
t h e Los Angeles-San B e r n a r d i n o a r e a , from which
i t i s a 2-hour r i d e o v e r I n t e r s t a t e 10 t o t h e
Monument. When I worked t h e r e , we had o u r
f a i r s h a r e o f vandalism, p r i m a r i l y such a c t i v i t i e s as d r i v i n g m o t o r b i k e s o f f t h e roads and
p a i n t i n g t h e r o c k s . The problems were n o t i n o r d i n a t e , b u t t h e y were always t h e r e .
C o n d i t i o n s were d i f f e r e n t a t I s l e Royale.
A p e r s o n w a n t i n g t o v i s i t t h e i s l a n d had t o
make r e s e r v a t i o n s i n advance f o r a 7 3 - m i l e
b o a t t r i p f r o m Houghton, M i c h i g a n , w h i c h c o s t
a minimum o f $20 and t o o k 8 hours, o v e r one o f
t h e roughest f r e s h w a t e r l a k e s i n t h e w o r l d .
I t seemed t o f o l l o w t h a t o n l y p e o p l e who r e a l l y
cared about the k i n d o f place t h a t wilderness
i s l a n d was would t a k e t h e t i m e t o make t h e
t r i p out.
We had so few v a n d a l i s m problems
t h a t i t was t r u l y i d y l l i c . Oh, o c c a s i o n a l l y
someone m i g h t throw down a p i e c e o f paper,
b u t t h e n e x t v i s i t o r coming a l o n g would p i c k
i t up; and e v e r y once i n a g r e a t w h i l e some
young p e r s o n ( u s u a l l y a boy i n an o l i v e g r e e n
u n i f o r m i n t h e company o f s e v e r a l more young
men dressed s i m i l a r l y ) m i g h t c a r v e upon an
aspen t r e e , b u t woe t o be t o him i f some o t h e r
v i s i t o r saw t h e a c t .
There a r e v a r i o u s reasons why some places
a r e more prone t o v a n d a l i s m t h a n o t h e r s .
Perhaps t h o s e w h i c h a r e h a r d e r t o v i s i t a t t r a c t
m o s t l y t h o s e who c a r e ; c o n s e q u e n t l y , problems
a r e minimal.
Many o t h e r f a c t o r s a l s o appear
t o have an i n f l u e n c e : t h e d e s i g n o f a f a c i 1 i ty;'
t h e appropr l a t e n e s s o f a s i g n ( o f t e n a regul a t o r y s i g n t h a t i s n ' t r e a l l y necessary seems
t o a t t r a c t abuse as t h e o n l y means t h e p u b l i c
has o f e x p r e s s i n g t h e i r f r u s t r a t i o n and i n d i g n a t i o n ) ; and t h e degree t o w h i c h an a r e a i s
k e p t up (we a1 1 know t h a t one b r o k e n window
i n a b u i l d i n g seems t o l e a d t o many more o r
t h a t one s e t o f i n i t i a l s o n a r o c k seems t o
overnight--literally--propagate s e v e r a l
others).
F r u s t r a t i o n i s p r o b a b l y one i m p o r t a n t
reason f o r vandal ism.
Perhaps a d e s i r e f o r
i m m o r t a l i t y accounts f o r t h e names and i n i t i a l s
on many r o c k s and t r e e s .
And, o f c o u r s e , many
a c t s o f vandalism r e s u l t from simple lack o f
a p p r e c i a t i o n o r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h o s e features
t h a t we who work i n a p a r k c o n s i d e r so important.
I t i s no c l o s e l y guarded s e c r e t t h a t we
i n t h e N a t i o n a l Park S e r v i c e a r e u n d e r s t a f f e d ,
and we l o n g ago found o u t t h a t we d o n ' t have
enough Rangers t o p l a c e one b e h i n d e v e r y t r e e
i n t h e hope o f c a t c h i n g some v i o l a t o r . We
a l s o l o n g ago d i s c o v e r e d t h a t i f we c o u l d
t a l k t o a v i s i t o r b e f o r e he commenced h i s park
e x p e r i e n c e , t h e chances were good t h a t he
would have a more e n j o y a b l e v i s i t , a l l o t h e r
t h i n g s b e i n g equal, i f we c o u l d g a i n t h e
v i s i t o r ' s i n t e r e s t and g i v e him some knowledge, chances were good t h a t we would have
no problems w i t h e i t h e r d e l i b e r a t e o r i n a d v e r t e n t vandal ism ( o r any o t h e r law enforcement problem).
communication w i t h a v i s i t o r , whether i t ' s
t a l k i n g about t h e v a l u e s o f an a r e a , o r
even j u s t r e m i n d i n g him o f o u r more commonly
v i o l a t e d r u l e s and r e g u l a t i o n s , stands a good
chance o f i n s u r i n g t h a t y o u r n e x t c o n t a c t w i l l
n o t be a law enforcement one.
I n t e r p r e t a t i o n has s e v e r a l meanings,
b u t i n i t s p u r e s t sense i t seems t o me a
v e r y S o c r a t i c p r i n c i p l e : t o h e l p someone
e l s e u n d e r s t a n d b e t t e r an idea o r an o b j e c t
o r a value--not t o e x p l a i n i t t o t h e other
person, b u t t o be a v e h i c l e by which he may
d i s c o v e r t h e p r o p e r answer h i m s e l f . T h i s
i s o f t e n a l e n g t h y process and one which
we engaged i n law enforcement may n o t have
time f o r .
But i n t h e N a t i o n a l Parks, a t
l e a s t , we s i m p l y cannot a f f o r d t o d i v o r c e
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n f r o m p r o t e c t i o n . We have
found t h a t j u s t % f o r m o f p o s i t i v e
I n p a r k s where personnel a r e spread so
t h i n t h a t law enforcement Rangers must cons t a n t l y p a t r o l j u s t t o cover t h e a s s i g n e d
' b e a t " , I w i l l admit t h a t t h e i r presence a l o n e
i s a deterrent t o a c e r t a i n extent.
But, i n
t h e l o n g r u n (and o f t e n even i n t h e s h o r t r u n ) ,
i t i s n o t enough.
U l t i m a t e l y , those v i s i t o r s
who understand what you a r e t r y i n g t o p r o v i d e
i n an area, and who a r e even a b i t p r o t e c t i v e
about i t , a r e t h e ones who w i l l h e l p t o l e s s e n
t h e problem o f vandalism. To my mind, law
enforcement, by i t s e l f , w i l l never be enough.
A Magistrate's View of Vandalism
Willard W. ~ c ~ w e n l
As a c o m p a r a t i v e l y new U.S. M a g i s t r a t e i t
has been a r e a l "eye opener" t o view my c a l endar on t h e t h i r d F r i d a y o f each month and
see f r o m 50 t o 150 a r r a i g n m e n t s s e t f o r m i s demeanors a l l e g e d l y committed i n t h e N a t i o n a l F o r e s t a r e a behind Santa Barbara. Approxi m a t e l y 40 p e r c e n t o f t h i s number r e l a t e t o
vandalism.
We have worked o u t a sentence system s i m i l a r t o t h a t o f t h e Valyermo
Ranger D i s t r i c t ~ p a yt h e f i n e , s e r v e t i m e
i n j a i 1 , o r work o f f t h e f i n e ($25.00 p e r
day) i n t h e Los Padres N a t i o n a l F o r e s t .
In
a few "hard c o r e " cases I u t i l i z e t h e Probat i o n Department t o s u p e r v i s e t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s
conduct.
I was r a i s e d i n Santa Barbara and spent
much o f my y o u t h i n Boy Scout and E x p l o r e r
a c t i v i t i e s r e l a t i n g t o t h e "back c o u n t r y . ' '
I own a s m a l l c a b i n on F i g u e r o a Mountain and
I ' m q u i t e f a m i l i a r w i t h the geographical
area w i t h i n which t h e s e o f f e n s e s a r e comm i t t e d . A defense a t t o r n e y m i g h t c o n s i d e r
f i l i n g an a p p r o p r i a t e a f f i d a v i t o f p r e j u d i c e on t h a t b a s i s , b u t t h u s f a r i t has
not occurred.
I r e a d i l y a d m i t t h a t I am
'prosecution" oriented; that is, I f i n d
i t d i f f i c u l t t o t o l e r a t e the treatment
which p u b l i c f a c i l i t i e s receive from t h e
m a j o r i t y o f t h e defendants who appear
b e f o r e me, and I c o n t i n u a l l y s e a r c h f o r
a p p r o p r i a t e l e c t u r e s and d i s s e r t a t i o n s
t o express my concern when p a s s i n g sentence.
Concurrently, I search f o r a
sentence t h a t w i l l be m e a n i n g f u l t o t h e
d e f e n d a n t and perhaps s e r v e as an example t o f r i e n d s and acquaintances,
t h e r e b y d i s c o u r a g i n g s i m i l a r conduct
on t h e i r p a r t .
A m a j o r concern I have r e l a t e s t o t h e
f a c t t h a t the m a j o r i t y o f those defendants
who e l e c t t o "work o f f " t h e i r f i n e a r e t h o s e
who a r e n o t charged w i t h t h e aggravated o f fenses.
U s u a l l y t h e y have camped i n an undesignated area o r entered a closed area, e t c
and t h e y a r e more o r l e s s t h e "good k i d s " ;
t h e i r o f f e n s e was i n a d v e r t e n t o r u n i n t e n t i o n a
I r a r e l y r e c e i v e t h e s e defendants back b e f o r e
me on a r e p e a t o f f e n s e .
I do, however, r e c e i v e an i n c r e a s i n g number o f d e f e n d a n t s who
a r e charged w i t h , and u l t i m a t e l y found g u i l t y
o f , aggravated o f f e n s e s ( d e s t r u c t i o n o f pub1 i c
p r o p e r t y , a s s a u l t on F o r e s t o f f i c e r s , use o f
We' r e now a v e r a g i n g seven
narcotics, etc)
t r i a l s p e r month and a p p r o x i m a t e l y 90 p e r c e n t
o f t h e defendants a r e found g u i l t y .
U n i t e d S t a t e s M a g i s t r a t e , Santa Barbara,
California.
.
I can o n l y c o n c l u d e t h a t t h e s e n t e n c i n g
p r o c e d u r e which I have adopted i s n o t s e r v i n g
a m e a n i n g f u l purpose as a d e t e r r e n t , and t h a t
t h e law enforcement and F o r e s t S e r v i c e o f f i c e r s
(and employees) concerned should, perhaps,
make some recommendations t o t h e P r e s i d i n g
M a g i s t r a t e and t o me p e r s o n a l l y on t h i s subject.
I f e e l t h a t we have reached a s t a t e where
t h e " m a j o r i t y " o f campers who u s e o u r back
I
c o u n t r y a r e no l o n g e r t h e "good guys."
t h i n k t h a t a m a j o r i t y , o r a t l e a s t a substant i a l m i n o r i t y , a r e "bad guys"; i . e . , vandals
and o t h e r s who can o n l y be p r o p e r l y d i s c o u r a g e d
by t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f an e n t r a n c e and e x i t
g a t e system w i t h a p p r o p r i a t e fees charged t o
a b s o r b t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e expense. We no
longer l i v e i n a country w i t h a substantial
number o f p o o r p e o p l e .
Almost e v e r y camper
would b e happy and a b l e t o pay a r e a s o n a b l e
f e e f o r u s e o f n i c e l y m a i n t a i n e d camping and
r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t ies.
The most i m p o r t a n t
f a c t o r i s t h a t t h e campers' nanes and l i c e n s e
numbers w o u l d be r e g i s t e r e d as they e n t e r e d ,
and t h i s , I b e l i e v e , w o u l d d i s c o u r a g e them
from indulging i n d e s t r u c t i v e a c t i v i t i e s .
One l a s t i m p o r t a n t p o i n t i s t h a t I cont i n u a l l y l i s t e n t o t h e defendant r e l a t i n g
' ' e x t e n u a t i n g c i rcumstances" t h a t w i 1 I , he
hopes, s o f t e n t h e s e n t e n c e t o b e imposed.
Almost i n e v i t a b l y t h e d e f e n d a n t w i l l s t a t e :
' T h e r e w a s n ' t any s i g n p r o h i b i t i n g nude swimming," o r "We j u s t p u l l e d i n t o t h e camp and
d i d n ' t know t h a t any f e e was due," o r "There
was no s i g n showing t h i s t o be a c l o s e d a r e a . ' '
I always a d v i s e them t h a t i t i s t h e i r o b l i g a t i o n t o v i s i t the nearest ranger s t a t i o n
and a s c e r t a i n t h e r u l e s and r e g u l a t i o n s t h a t
govern t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l use o f t h e area and
conduct themselves a c c o r d i n g l y .
T h i s "sounds''
good b u t i n f a c t demonstrates t h a t t h e F o r e s t
S e r v i c e has i n s u f f i c i e n t funds and p e r s o n n e l
t o p o s t t h e s e areas w i t h a p p r o p r i a t e s i g n s cont a i n i n g t h e r u l e s and r e g u l a t i o n s , whereas t h e
camper who s t o p s a t a road s t o p g a t e can be
i m m e d i a t e l y a d v i s e d and w i l l have l i t t l e o r no
excuse f o r d e v i a t i o n f r o m t h e s a i d r u l e s and
regulations.
I t i s q u i t e a p p a r e n t t h a t some changes
must be made.
I would s t r o n g l y s u p p o r t t h e
e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f check s t a t i o n s and f e e s t r u c t u r e s t h a t would p r o p e r l y d e f r a y t h e overhead
expenses, i n c l u d i n g t h e necessary assignment
o f l o c a l p o l i c e and s h e r i f f employees t o these
areas.
Santa Barbara i s f o r t u n a t e i n h a v i n g
good men a v a i l a b l e , b u t hob; l o n g t h e County
budget w i l l be a b l e t o Day f o r t h e i r s e r v i c e s
i s a m a t t e r o f c o n t i n u a l concern.
Creative Justice
Glenn Harnptonl
The s u b j e c t I w i l l b r i e f l y d i s c u s s i s one
we, as r e s o u r c e managers, have no c o n t r o l o v e r
b u t s h o u l d have p o s i t i v e i n p u t t o - - t h e j u s t i c e
system.
A number o f y e a r s ago a v e r y c r e a t i v e
judge i n Antelope Valley, C a l i f o r n i a , i n i t i a t e d
a C o u r t R e f e r r a l Program, by w h i c h persons
g u i l t y o f c e r t a i n misdemeanors w e r e a l l o w e d t o
w o r k o f f t h e i r sentences on t h e N a t i o n a l F o r e s t .
The j u d g e gave o f f e n d e r s t h r e e c h o i c e s : pay a
f i n e , go t o t h e slammer, o r work o f f t h e i r
sentence i n t h e a d j a c e n t Angeles N a t i o n a l
Forest.
Most v i o l a t o r s chose w o r k i n g i n t h e
National Forest.
The C o u r t Crew Program s t a r t e d o n t h e
lyermo D i s t r i c t o f t h e Angeles N a t i o n a l
r e s t i n 1964, when two h i g h school boys
who had chopped down an oak t r e e were sentenced t o p l a n t and w a t e r s e e d l i n g s o v e r t h e i r
Christmas h o l i d a y .
B o t h boys w r o t e t o t h e
D i s t r i c t Ranger, Valyermo Ranger D i s t r i c t ,
Angeles N a t i o n a l F o r e s t , F o r e s t S e r v i c e ,
U.S. Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e , Pearblossom, C a l i f o r n i a .
j u d g e and thanked h i m f o r t h e f a i r sentence.
S i n c e t h a t t i m e , t h e program has saved t a x payers w e l l o v e r $500,000 on t h i s one Ranger
District.
T h i s does n o t i n c l u d e d o l l a r s
saved i n reduced c o s t s o f m a i n t a i n i n g penal
inmates, o r i n such a c t i v i t i e s as f i r e p r e v e n t i o n , r e s o u r c e management p r o j e c t s , and
I t also
human r e s o u r c e r e h a b i l i t a t i o n .
d o e s n ' t i n c l u d e d o l l a r s saved i n o t h e r areas
where t h e program i s i n o r o g r e s s .
The most
d r a m a t i c p r o o f o f i t s success l i e s i n t h e f a c t
t h a t many o t h e r j u d i c i a l d i s t r i c t s t h r o u g h o u t
C a l i f o r n i a a r e now i n t h e orogram.
For y e a r s many j u r i s d i c t i o n s were r e l u c t a n t t o employ t h e program because o f t h e
c l o u d y l e g a l a r e a o f compensation f o r i n j u r i e s
We've s o l v e d t h i s problem w i t h passage o f t h e
A l l c o u r t crew person.
National Volunteer
&.
n e l a r e now f u l l y c o v e r e d i n case o f an a c c i dent.
The a c c o m ~ l i s h m e n t s i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l qaim
and o v e r a l l improvements a r e numerous.
Example
a r e r e f o r e s t a t i o n , w i l d l i f e h a b i t a t improvement
f i r e p r e v e n t i o n , road maintenance, t r a i l cons t r u c t i o n , and campground c o n s t r u c t i o n and mair
tenance.
Although I ' v e mentioned t h e d o l l a r savings I t h i n k t h e r e a l v a l u e o f t h e program l i e s
i n t h e human values.
Here a r e a few advantages
o f t h e program t o t h e o f f e n d e r :
1.
For an i n d i v i d u a l who i s unable t o
pay a f i n e , i t removes t h e burden and stigma
of a j a i l sentence.
2.
For young o f f e n d e r s , i t takes t h e f i n a n c i a l burden o f p a y i n g a f i n e o f f t h e par e n t s ' shoulders and l e t s t h e o f f e n d e r serve
h i s own sentence--thus t e a c h i n g him personal
Many young people a r e excepresponsibility.
t i o n a l l y a n t a g o n i s t i c toward t h e law enforcement agencies and o f f i c e r s . T h i s program helps
them t o f e e l t h a t law enforcement sees them as
i n d i v i d u a l s , and t h a t t h e system i s n o t u n f a i r
o r harsh w i t h t h e f i r s t o f f e n d e r , who may have
committed o n l y a minor o f f e n s e .
Also, n o t b e i n g
t r e a t e d as a c r i m i n a l sometimes h e l p s p u t i n
check an o t h e r w i s e r e b e l 1 ious young person.
3. F a m i l i e s a l r e a d y r e c e i v i n g County
a i d o r some o t h e r form of p u b l i c a s s i s t a n c e
need n o t f u r t h e r t a x t h e p u b l i c moneys by
h a v i n g a f a m i l y member i n j a i l .
4. The work accomplished i s prod u c t i v e and i m p o r t a n t and t h e person d o i n g
t h e work knows h e ' s d o i n g something conI t o f t e n g i v e s him a f e e l i n g
structive.
o f p r i d e i n accomplishment and strengthens
h i s "work e t h i c . "
s e r v a t i o n and expanding h i s environmental awareness i s w o r t h many times more than t h e p r o j e c t
value.
Work accompl ished by c o u r t crewmen does
n o t d u p l i c a t e and/or r e p l a c e work c o n t r a c t e d
between Congress and t h e Forest Service.
Permanent government employees a r e not replaced
by c o u r t crewmen.
Most o f t h e work i s r e s o u r c e - o r i e n t e d work t h a t must be accomplished
i n t h e years ahead.
The Court R e f e r r a l Program i s n o t an a l t e r n a t i v e t o the r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f a convicted
criminal.
I t i s designed as a form o f rehab i l i t a t i o n f o r misdemeanors. And as s t a t i s t i c s p o i n t o u t , over and over again, most
f i r s t - t i m e youthful offenders are only g u i l t y
o f a misdemeanor. A11 t o o o f t e n they f e e l
they r e c e i v e d a raw deal and a j a i l sentence
o n l y increases t h e i r b i t t e r n e s s .
Or, their
parents pay t h e f i n e and t h e young person goes
f r e e - - f r e e from f i n a n c i a l and personal responsibility.
Because we have long r e j e c t e d t h e
goal o f r e t r i b u t i o n as a l e g i t i m a t e aim o f t h e
c r i m i n a l law and of sentencing, t h e o n l y r e maining method by which t h e general p u b l i c may
be p r o t e c t e d i s t h e r e f o r m a t i o n o f t h e i n d i vidual offender i n t o a law-abiding c i t i z e n .
5. The program a l l o w s people t o work on
t h e i r days o f f o r v a c a t i o n time, so t h a t t h e y
a r e n o t i n jeopardy o f l o s i n g t h e i r l i v e l i hood.
The Court R e f e r r a l Program has been i n
e x i s t e n c e f o r 10 years.
Returnees make up
T h a t ' s an o u t less than 5 t o 10 percent.
s t a n d i n g record when compared t o t h e n a t i o n a l
one.
Many c o u r t r e f e r r a l people r e t u r n , b u t
as v o l u n t e e r s - - t o work on c o n s e r v a t i o n proj e c t s w i t h t h e i r four-wheel d r i v e c l u b s , e t c .
T h i s i s a testamonial t o t h e human v a l u e o f
t h e program.
The c o u r t crews have been a tremendous h e l p
i n d o i n g nontechnical tasks and f r e e i n g
Forest S e r v i c e personnel f o r more h i g h l y
s k i 1 l e d and t e c h n i c a l a c t i v i t i e s . When
s k i l l e d people a r e sentenced they a r e f u l l y
u t i l i z e d i n p r o j e c t s needing c a r p e n t e r s , cont r a c t o r s , pa i n t e r s , e t c .
Legally, the r a t i o n a l a p p l i c a t i o n o f the
doctrine o f the "least d r a s t i c alternative"
preserves b o t h of t h e c o n f l i c t i n g v a l u e s : t h e
need o f s o c i e t y and t h e i n t e g r i t y o f t h e Constitution.
The U n i t e d S t a t e s Supreme Court
has o f t e n used t h e phrase "less d r a s t i c means"
i n a F i r s t Amendment c o n t e x t .
There a r e a l s o advantages t o t h e community:
I t appears i n e v i t a b l e t o me t h a t c o u r t s
u l t i m a t e l y w i l l adopt, i n one form o r another, the doctrine o f the "least d r a s t i c
alternative."
The d o c t r i n e i s h a r d l y extreme.
The American Law I n s t i t u t e has recommended a presumption i n favor o f p r o b a t i o n o f
every o f f e n d e r .
The American Bar A s s o c i a t i o n
has d e c l a r e d t h a t nonconfinement i s t o be
p r e f e r r e d over t o t a l o r p a r t i a l confinement
i n t h e absence of a f f i r m a t i v e reasons t o
the contrary.
1
There i s a minimum c o s t t o m a i n t a i n
t h e p r o g r a m - - c l e r i c a l t i m e a t c o u r t and on t h e
Forest d i s t r i c t .
2.
I n s t e a d o f c o s t i n g t h e County f o r a
day i n j a i l , t h e o f f e n d e r b e n e f i t s t h e County
and l o c a l community i n l a b o r f o r each day he
works.
3. Every o f f e n d e r p e r s o n a l l y c o n t r i b u t e s
h i s t i m e t o a c o n s t r u c t i v e work p r o j e c t , thus
compensating s o c i e t y f o r h i s o f f e n s e .
4. The e d u c a t i o n a l v a l u e o f i n t r o d u c i n g
t h e c o u r t crew member t o t h e p r a c t i c e o f con-
A l l t h e N a t i o n a l Forests and some o f t h e
Ranger D i s t r i c t s represented h e r e today a r e
l o c a t e d i n communities where t h e r e a r e Munic i p a l Courts.
Go v i s i t t h e judge o r D i s t r i c t
A t t o r n e y o r M a g i s t r a t e and see i f you can work
o u t a Court R e f e r r a l Program.
DESIGN AND VANDALISM The Designer as the Vandal
Michael ~ o r r i s s e ~ l
As o u r n a t i o n ' s p o p u l a t i o n c o n t i n u e s t o
i n c r e a s e and o u r c i t i e s become more overcrowded and i m p e r s o n a l , t h e d e s i r e t o g e t away f r o m
i t a l l and g e t back t o n a t u r e becomes more and
more i m p o r t a n t t o everyone.
Our i n c r e a s e d a f f l u e n c e has d i r e c t l y a f f e c t e d o u r m o b i l i t y and
i n d i r e c t l y r e s u l t e d i n reduced t i m e spent on
the job.
I n r e c e n t y e a r s , we have been exper i e n c i n g a t r e n d toward s h o r t e r work weeks and
l o n g e r annual v a c a t i o n s , e n a b l i n g more p e o p l e
t o t r a v e l f u r t h e r away f r o m p o p u l a t i o n c e n t e r s
and i n l a r g e r numbers t h a n e v e r b e f o r e t o o u t door r e c r e a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s .
This a v a i l a b l e
f r e e t i m e and new-found m o b i l i t y now g i v e s us
more l e i s u r e t i m e f o r o u t d o o r r e c r e a t i o n . A
byproduct o f t h i s increase i n people f l e e i n g
t o t h e N a t i o n a l Parks and F o r e s t has been a
s t e a d y r i s e i n vandalism.
The i n c r e a s e i s
p a r t l y due t o overuse, t o inadequate, imprope r l y d e s i g n e d f a c i 1 i t i e s , and t o t h e i g n o r a n c e
o r ma1 i c e o f t h e u s e r .
The N a t i o n a l Parks and N a t i o n a l F o r e s t s
do n o t i n themselves c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e s e phenomena, b u t t h e y d i r e c t l y s u f f e r f r o m i t .
They r e p r e s e n t t h e a u t h o r i t y and p r o v i d e t h e
e s s e n t i a l s f o r an a c t i v e vandal ism program:
s o f t w o r k a b l e m a t e r i a l such as t r e e b a r k and
p i c n i c t a b l e s ; and m e t a l s i g n s - - e x c e l l e n t t a r g e t s f o r t h e c a t c h l e s s h u n t e r . The s i g n becomes t h e a g g r e s s o r i n t h e w i l d e r n e s s e x p e r i ence o r even o n a day h i k e .
R e c r e a t i o n i s t s go
t o a g r e a t d e a l o f t r o u b l e and expense t o r e move themselves f r o m t h e i r d a i l y r o u t i n e and
surroundings.
They a r e l o o k i n g f o r a d i f f e r e n t e x p e r ience--"nature."
Man-made s t r u c t u r e s , o f w h i c h t h e s i g n i s an example, a r e
a l l - t o o - f a m i l i a r r e m i n d e r s o f what t h e y a r e
t r y i n g t o g e t away f rom--d ir e c t i v e s . Manmade s t r u c t u r e s i n a n a t u r a l s e t t i n g a r e
m u t a t i o n s , r e c o g n i z e d by t h e v i s i t o r as t a r g e t s t o be s h o t a t and defaced.
What i s vandal ism? Vandal ism i s d e s t r o y i n g o r d e f a c i n g someone e l s e ' s p r o p e r t y . A t
p u b l i c l y operated f a c i l i t i e s , vandalism i s t h e
mod i f i c a t i o n o f a g i v e n o b j e c t o r landscape t o
s u i t t h e needs o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l , be i t f o r
p l e a s u r e o r purpose.
Vandalism t a k e s t h e f o r m
A s s i s t a n t P r o f e s s o r , Department o f N a t u r a l
Resources, C a l i f o r n i a P o l y t e c h n i c S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y , San L u i s Obispo, C a l i f o r n i a .
o f carving, burning, spray p a i n t i n g , 1 i t t e r ing, breaking, dismantling, o r shooting.
These a c t s a r e most o f t e n d i r e c t e d toward
s i g n s , t r a s h cans, r e s t r o o m f a c i l i t i e s , and
o t h e r man-made f a c i l i t i e s .
F r e q u e n t l y , nearby
t r e e s and v e g e t a t i o n a r e a l s o t h e t a r g e t o f
t h e vandal.
Vandalism i s an a c t d i r e c t e d toward a
p a r t i c u l a r o b j e c t o r s e r v i n g t o make a p h i l o I f t h e a c t i s committed
sophical statement.
a g a i n s t an o b j e c t , t h e n t h e o b j e c t must be
examined t o d e t e r m i n e t h e reason i t i s p r o d u c i n g d e v i a n t b e h a v i o r . The d e s i g n e r and
managing agency a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r d e t e r m i n i n g why t h e v a n d a l i s m i s o c c u r r i n g . T h i s f o r m
o f vandal ism i s agency/designer i n i t i a t e d , and
can be reduced o r e l i m i n a t e d when a method i s
implemented t o i d e n t i f y and r e s o l v e t h e p r o b lem. The method i s t h e development o f a comm u n i c a t i o n feedback system, one t h a t w i l l
f a c i l i t a t e a d i a l o g between t h e d e s i g n e r ,
management, and t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l u s e r .
Because t h e u s e r and o p e r a t i n g agency a r e u s u a l l y i n d i r e c t c o n t a c t w i t h each o t h e r , a f o r m
o f communication a l r e a d y e x i s t s - - i t i s t h e des i g n e r who i s u s u a l l y i s o l a t e d . Too o f t e n t h e
d e s i g n e r ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ends w i t h t h e comp l e t i o n o f construction.
Vandalism as a p h i l o s o p h i c a l s t a t e m e n t i s
a s o c i o l o g i c a l problem. A t b e s t , t h e d e s i g n e r
can o n l y f a c i l i t a t e t h i s t y p e o f a c t i v i t y o r
i g n o r e i t . The d e s i g n e r can n o t p r e v e n t s o c i o l o g i c a l vandal ism. When i t i s stopped i n one
p l a c e i t u s u a l l y appears i n a n o t h e r .
I f shot-up s i g n s and t o i l e t s t r u c t u r e s
r e p r e s e n t a g g r e s s i o n and h o s t i l i t y d i r e c t e d a t
an a u t h o r i t y , t h e p a r k s and f o r e s t s , and t h e
government, t h e n d e s i g n i n g b u l l e t - p r o o f s i g n s
and t o i l e t s t r u c t u r e s does n o t s o l v e t h e i n i t i a 1 problem.
The vandal on1 y moves on t o
more v u l n e r a b l e t a r g e t s o r changes h i s s t y l e
o f vandalism.
Vandalism i s a l s o a f o r m o f communication.
The vandal i s s a y i n g t o t h e d e s i g n e r ,
management, o r even t o s o c i e t y - - " ! d o n ' t 1 i k e
what you have done and I 'm g o i n g t o change it."
The p e o p l e who r i p o f f t h e t o p o f t h e
p i c n i c t a b l e o r t h e l o o s e board o n t h e s t o r a g e
shed t o b u i l d a c a m p f i r e a r e n o t v a n d a l s .
They a r e r e c r e a t i o n i s t s l o o k i n g f o r f i r e w o o d .
What i s a camping t r i p w i t h o u t a c a m p f i r e ? I f
a r e c r e a t i o n i s t has t o do t h i s , t h e n v a n d a l i s m
i s p u r p o s e f u l and necessary, though p u r p o s e f u l
o n l y t o t h e vandal.
Many g e n e r a l i z a t i o n s c o u l d be made about
who v a n d a l s areÑteenagers
those people from
t h e c i t y , etc.--but
t h i s would s e r v e no p u r pose i n i n c r e a s i n g u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e causes
o f vandalism f o r t h e designer.
Each i n d i v i d u a l and t y p e o f vandal must be examined because
v a n d a l i s m i s an a c t committed by i n d i v i d u a l s ,
n o t by a homogeneous group.
On t h e o t h e r
hand, t h e r e i s one group o f v a n d a l s who can be
examined more c l o s e l y t h a n t h e o t h e r s because
we know more about them.
They a r e t h e d e s i g n e r s and p l a n n e r s o f o u t d o o r r e c r e a t i o n a l f a cilities.
Their selection o f inappropriate
m a t e r i a l , t h e i r acceptance o f poor c o n s t r u c t i o n and poor s i t e d e s i g n , and t h e i r misunders t a n d i n g o f maintenance needs and d u r a b i l i t y
has l e a d t o a s u b s t a n t i a l amount o f t h e damage
c a l l e d vandalism.
M i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g and ignor a n c e on t h e p a r t o f t h e u s e r and t h e operat i o n and maintenance crews r e s u l t s i n v a n d a l i z i n g o f newly c o n s t r u c t e d f a c i l i t i e s .
The
p i c n i c t a b l e i s an example. The vandal sees
t h e wooden p i c n i c t a b l e as a s o u r c e o f f i r e -
wood and a w h i t t l i n g b l o c k . The o p e r a t o r and
maintenance crew f e e l t h e c o n c r e t e p i c n i c
t a b l e s o l v e s many o f t h e r e p a i r and m a i n t e nance problems c r e a t e d by t h e v a n d a l . The des i g n e r searches f o r i n d e s t r u c t i b l e m a t e r i a l
t h a t l o o k s and f e e l s l i k e wood, b u t w o n ' t b u r n
and c a n ' t be carved.
Yet, a l l t h e r e c r e a t i o n i s t s wanted was a f l a t a r e a t o p u t t h e i r b l a n k e t on o r a s i m p l e s e a t i n g arrangement t o keep
them o f f t h e ground.
A t t i m e s , we have l e t
t h e vandal become t h e d e s i g n e r and i n a d v e r t e n t l y t h e d e s i g n e r has become t h e v a n d a l .
Where do we go f r o m h e r e ? We must f i r s t
a c c e p t t h a t v a n d a l i s m can n o t be stopped; i t
i s h e r e t o s t a y . A t b e s t , we can o n l y m i n i mize t h e d i s c o m f o r t t o t h e u s e r and t h e c o s t
o f vandalism. We must r e c o g n i z e t h e r e i s no
a b s o l u t e s o l u t i o n t o vandalism.
What appears
as a s o l u t i o n i n one s i t u a t i o n , may n o t work
i n another.
One problem c o n f r o n t i n g N a t i o n a l o r S t a t e
agencies i s t h a t each j u r i s d i c t i o n c o v e r s many
d i f f e r e n t and v a r i e d types o f s u b c u l t u r e s ,
each one p r o d u c i n g i t s own f o r m o f vandalism.
The most p r a c t i c a l p a t h toward a s o l u t i o n t o
v a n d a l i s m i s t o open communication between t h e
d e s i g n e r , t h e o p e r a t o r , and.most i m p o r t a n t o f
a l I, t h e r e c r e a t i o n i s t .
Control of Vandalism--An Architectural Design Approach
John Grosvenorl
I n discussing the Forest Service a r c h i t e c t u r a l d e s i g n approach t o v a n d a l i s m i n r e c r e a t i o n s t r u c t u r e s , I w i l l t o u c h on t h r e e
t y p e s o f abuse. The most o b v i o u s i s o v e r t
human a c t i o n s , such as d e f a c i n g b u i l d i n g s and
b r e a k i n g items.
But t h e r e a r e a l s o two a d d i t i o n a l types t o consider.
One i s c o v e r t human
a c t i o n s ~ u n t h i n k i n gd e s t r u c t i o n and m i s t r e a t ment o f f a c i l i t i e s , such as f l u s h i n g down t o i l e t s o b j e c t s t h a t d i s r u p t sewage s e p t i c a c t i o n
o r p l u g t h e waste l i n e s , p o u r i n g g a s o l i n e o r
other v o l a t i l e liquids i n t o vault t o i l e t s , o r
l e a v i n g doors o r windows open t o t h e elements
t o be damaged by w i n d , r a i n , snow and i c e .
The t h i r d t y p e o f v a n d a l i s m i s nonhuman damage
c r e a t e d by n a t u r a l agents, i n c l u d i n g w a t e r i n
i t s v a r i o u s forms, earthquakes, o r v a r i o u s
a n i m a l s and b i r d s .
A r c h i t e c t , Cal i f o r n i a Region, F o r e s t Servi c e , U.S. Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e , P l e a s a n t
H i l l , California.
The e a r l i e s t F o r e s t S e r v i c e t o i l e t s t r u c t u r e s were v e r y p r i m i t i v e and s i m p l e , w i t h
rough sawn wood, c o n c r e t e b l o c k , o r s t o n e masonry e x t e r i o r s . The i n t e r i o r s were o f s i m i l a r character.
P u b l i c use was low; t h e r e f o r e ,
v a n d a l i s m was s l i g h t . A f t e r World War I I and
i n t h e e a r l y 19601s, many more p e o p l e were
u s i n g N a t i o n a l F o r e s t campgrounds, and w i t h
t h i s i n c r e a s e o f usage came more vandalism.
The a r c h i t e c h t u r a l d e s i g n s became l a r g e r and
more s o p h i s t i c a t e d and t h e m a t e r i a l s more f i n ished, so t h a t t h e r e p a i r c o s t s o f v a n d a l i s m
increased g r e a t l y . A t t e m p t s were made t o use
m a t e r i a l s and f i n i s h e s t h a t m i g h t d e t e r o r
s t o p abuse. These i n c l u d e d plywood i n t e r i o r
w a l l s w i t h j o i n t s s e a l e d and f l u s h , t h e n
p a i n t e d w i t h a t w o - p a r t epoxy p a i n t .
Extra
b l o c k i n g and b a c k i n g were added t o t o i l e t enc l o s u r e s , doors, and windows, and d e t a i l s were
s i m p l i f i e d t o keep r e p a i r c o s t s down.
Floors
were t r e a t e d w i t h epoxy and e x t e r i o r f i n i s h e s
were n a t u r a l .
As we moved i n t o t h e l a t e 19601s, p u b l i c
usage was i n c r e a s i n g even more, so even b i g g e r
and more compl i c a t e d b u i l d i n g s were designed
and c o n s t r u c t e d .
We were s t i 11 l o o k i n g toward
p r e v e n t i n g o v e r t v a n d a l i s m i n t h e d e s i g n s and
m a t e r i a l s , b u t a t t h i s t i m e we a l s o began t o
f a c e t h e o t h e r two t y p e s o f vandal ism. Overs i z e d waste l i n e s were p u t i n t o accommodate
r o c k s , s a n i t a r y n a p k i n s , and p l a s t i c bags.
The h e i g h t and l o c a t i o n o f w a t e r c l o s e t s and
u r i n a l s f o r use by c h i l d r e n and t h e handicapped were c o n s i d e r e d .
L a r g e r d o o r c l o s e r s were
used t o r e s i s t w i n d damage. Windows were
e l i m i n a t e d and sky1 i g h t s o r c l e a r s t o r i e s were
added t o b r i n g i n n a t u r a l 1 i g h t . To p r o v i d e
heat t o keep p i p e s f r o m f r e e z i n g i n s p r i n g and
f a l l , tamper-proof e l e c t r i c h e a t e r s were
found.
The t y p e o f g l u e used i n t h e plywood,
t h e s p e c i e s o f t r i m , and t h e t y p e o f r o o f i n g
m a t e r i a l s were c o n s i d e r e d i n a r e a s where a n i mal vandal ism was p r e v a l e n t ( p o r c u p i n e s have
e a t e n e x t e r i o r plywood and woodpeckers have
r u i n e d t r i m and r o o f s .
As we e n t e r e d t h e 19701s, t h e c o s t o f
maintenance and t h e amount o f vandal ism had
a g a i n i n c r e a s e d , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e number o f
pub1 i c u s e r s , t o a p o i n t where new d e s i g n approaches were needed. W i t h t h e i n c r e a s e d cons t r u c t i o n c o s t s , we found i t necessary t o r e duce t h e s i z e o f t h e b u i l d i n g s t o s t a y w i t h i n
o u r budgets.
About t h i s t i m e , we d i s c o v e r e d
t h a t e s t h e t i c s were a f a c t o r i n d e t e r r i n g vand a l i s m ; more p l e a s i n g b u i l d i n g s , l i g h t e r i n t e r i o r s , and good q u a l i t y m a t e r i a l s seemed t o
keep t h e p u b l i c f r o m v a n d a l i z i n g o u r b u i l d ings.
On t h e o t h e r hand heavy, d a r k , dank
spaces seemed t o i n c r e a s e p u b l i c misuses.
W i t h t h e decrease i n t h e s i z e o f t h e b u i l d i n g
and t o keep t h e s c a l e o f t h e s t r u c t u r e approp r i a t e f o r t h e l o c a t i o n , we t r i e d t u r n i n g t h e
a x i s o f o u r r o o f s 45', g i v i n g us what we c a l l ed t h e " h a n d k e r c h i e f r o o f . "
I n 1972, t h e F o r e s t S e r v i c e began an ext e n s i v e w a t e r - p o l l u t i o n abatement program,
d u r i n g w h i c h hundreds o f o l d t o i l e t b u i l d i n g s
were r e p l a c e d w i t h modern s a n i t a r y s t r u c t u r e s .
Again c o n s t r u c t i o n and maintenance c o s t s were
s o a r i n g much f a s t e r t h a n money was becoming
available.
In order t o better u t i l i z e the
funds a v a i l a b l e , t h e concept o f s e p a r a t e men's
and women's t o i l e t s was dropped, and t h e w a t e r
c l o s e t s a s s i g n e d t o a campground were p l a c e d
i n s e p a r a t e c u b i c l e s , each w i t h an e x t e r i o r
l o c k a b l e door.
Once more m a t e r i a l s were c a r e f u l l y studied t o give functional, a t t r a c t i v e ,
e a s i l y maintained buildings.
S p l i t - f a c e d conc r e t e blocks w i t h i n t e g r a l c o l o r i n g selected
f o r t h e s p e c i f i c campground was used f o r t h e
exteriors.
Easi 1y c l e a n a b l e i n t e r i o r s ( f a c t o r y - a p p l i e d epoxy . f i n i s h o r c e r a m i c t i l e ) were
chosen. The need f o r f r a g i l e t o i l e t p a r t i t i o n s was e l i m i n a t e d by t h e e i t h e r - s e x conc e p t , and an e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e p i p e chase a l s o
h e l d t h e e l e c t r i c a l equipment and a l l o w e d
space f o r s t o r a g e o f suppl i e s .
Interior
l i g h t s were a l s o p l a c e d i n t h e p i p e chase t o
keep pub1 i c access down and reduce damage and
theft.
E x t e r i o r l i g h t s were s p e c i a l l y d e s i g n ed f o r o u r b u i l d i n g s t o be v a n d a l - r e s i s t a n t .
F l o o r s were d r a i n e d f n t o t h e p i p e chase w i t h
onlyonefloordrainperbuilding.
Natural
l i g h t was b r o u g h t i n t h r o u g h t h e r o o f t o keep
the i n t e r i o r o f the buildings well i l l u m i nated.
V e n t i l a t i o n was i n t r o d u c e d a t t h e t o p
o f t h e b l o c k w a l l s , w i t h c l o s u r e p a n e l s t o be
i n s t a l l e d i n t h e w i n t e r . The d e s i g n s were
a g a i n moving towards t h e s i m p l e b u t r u s t i c approach w i t h heavy f l a t wood beam r o o f s and
rough c o n c r e t e b l o c k w a l l s .
Up t o t h i s p o i n t , I have been t a l k i n g
o n l y about t o i l e t b u i l d i n g s , b u t t h e F o r e s t
S e r v i c e has many o t h e r t y p e s o f p u b l i c use
r e c r e a t i o n a l s t r u c t u r e s . Our p l a y s t r u c t u r e s
a r e s i m p l e , rugged, and v e r y n a t u r a l .
Native
m a t e r i a l s a r e used w i t h n a t u r a l f i n i s h e s . The
s c a l e o f t h e s e s t r u c t u r e s i s designed f o r t h e
u s e r s . We have had v e r y l i t t l e vandalism.
Foot b r i d g e s i n o u r campgrounds have been des i g n e d u s i n g low maintenance, damage-resistant
m a t e r i a l s , c o r - t e n s t e e l open-web j o i s t s ,
heavy n a t u r a l redwood h a n d r a i l s and d e c k i n g ,
and exposed a g g r e g a t e c o n c r e t e abutments.
Our
designs f o r d r i n k i n g f o u n t a i n s a g a i n a r e simp l e and n a t u r a l , u s i n g heavy t i m b e r o r s t o n e
p e d e s t a l s and s t a i n l e s s s t e e l bowls.
A f a i r l y r e c e n t a d d i t i o n t o o u r campground has been e n t r a n c e s t a t i o n s . W i t h these
b u i l d i n g s we have t r i e d t o e s t a b l i s h an a r c h i t e c t u r a l s t y l e f o r o u r campgrounds.
They have
been i n c h a r a c t e r ; t h e r e f o r e , we have used
l e x o n - t y p e p l a s t i c windows t o d e t e r vandalism,
w i t h s h u t t e r s f o r t h e w i n t e r season.
The mat e r i a l s have been rugged (heavy t i m b e r o r concrete block) w i t h natural finishes.
Another
new a d d i t i o n has been o v e r l o o k s t r u c t u r e s a l o n g road systems and a l o n g r e s e r v o i r s . These
have been designed t o i n v i t e p e o p l e t o use
them, and have been open and c l e a n t o reduce
vandalism.
Again, n a t u r a l f i n i s h e s and vand a l - r e s - i s t a n t m a t e r i a l s have been employed.
I n o u r v i s i t o r c e n t e r we have been aware
o f t h e p o s s i b l e e f f e c t s o f n a t u r a l elements as
we1 1 as human vandal ism.
N a t i v e s t o n e , conc r e t e , and heavy t i m b e r a r e used t o c r e a t e a
b u i l d i n g w h i c h i s r e s i s t a n t t o a l l t h r e e types
o f vandalism. M a t e r i a l s and d e s i g n concepts
have been used t o c r e a t e many s t r u c t u r e s which
express a r u s t i c b o l d c h a r a c t e r and i n v i t e the
p u b l i c t o use them.
H o p e f u l l y , t h e new des i g n s w i l l n o t o n l y i n v i t e use, b u t vandal ismf r e e use.
Design of Campground Facilities
Briar cook1
Why do people v a n d a l i z e outdoor recreat i o n s i t e s ~ a r e a st h a t have been designed f o r
t h e i r enjoyment? Many reasons have been o f fered, and t h e f o l l o w i n g may be most appl i c a b l e t o r e c r e a t i o n areas and f a c i l i t i e s :
a.
F a c i l i t i e s a r e p o o r l y maintained o r
improperly constructed;
b. A t t e n t i o n - g e t t i n g o r c o m p e t i t i o n i s
s t i m u l a t e d when some groups o f people g e t t o gether;
c.
Some people may have a bad f e e l i n g
toward an o r g a n i z a t i o n and i t i s a form o f
g e t t i n g even;"
d.
Lack o f a c t i v i t y i n an area c r e a t e s
boredom;
e.
Some people s i m p l y g e t a k i c k o u t o f
destroying things.
The t a r g e t s f o r vandalism i n outdoor recreat i o n areas u s u a l l y i n c l u d e t o i l e t s , p i c n i c
t a b l e s , f i r e g r a t e s , garbage cans, b u i l d i n g s ,
and v i r t u a l l y any o t h e r o b j e c t .
There i s no p o s s i b l e way t o a n t i c i p a t e or
s t o p vandalism w i t h o u t an i n e x h a u s t i b l e budget
and s t a f f .
The best approach i s t o examine
t h e most f r e q u e n t vandalism occurrences and
d e s i g n f a c i l i t i e s t o h e l p e l i m i n a t e any r e c u r rence o r t o l e s s e n t h e e x t e n t o f t h e vandalism.
The f o l l o w i n g recommendations a r e drawn
from o u r r e c e n t work on t o i l e t and t a b l e design.
VAULT TOILETS
Wherever p o s s i b l e , v a u l t t o i l e t s should
be converted t o low-volume water o r o i l r e c i r c u l a t i o n t o i l e t s . A b o o k l e t on maintenance
and d e s i g n o f v a u l t t o i l e t s i s a v a i l a b l e from
the author.
S t a f f Engineer, Environmental, San Dimas
Equipment Development Center, F o r e s t Service,
U.S. Department o f A g r i c u l t u r e , San Dimas,
California.
Building I n t e r i o r
The i n t e r i o r o f t h e t o i l e t b u i l d i n g
should be c l e a n and o d o r l e s s . T h i s can be
accompl ished by proper v e n t i ng, and by seal ing
concrete f l o o r s , using monolithic f i b e r g l a s s
i n t e r i o r l i n e r s , and u s i n g proper p a i n t s f o r
t h e i n t e r i o r . The m o n o l i t h i c f i b e r g l a s s i n t e r i o r l i n e r i s c o n s t r u c t e d much 1 ike a shower
s t a l l and i s i n one p i e c e w i t h t h e t o i l e t
r i s e r b u i l t i n . The t o i l e t seat i s s i m i l a r t o
a household seat i n s t e a d o f a small metal
camper-type seat. There a r e no c r a c k s o r
sharp c o r n e r s where d e b r i s can c o l l e c t .
B u i l d i n g d e s i g n should a l l o w f o r easy removal
o f damaged I i n e r s .
Paper dispensers should be designed t o
accommodate more than one r o l l o f paper per
t o i l e t seat, depending on t h e frequency o f
maintenance v i s i t s .
A t w o - r o l l dispenser o r a
simple locked bar t h a t w i l l accommodate many
r o l l s , designed so t h e bar w i l l not a l l o w t h e
paper t o r o l l o f f e a s i l y , c o u l d be used.
A11 f l o o r surfaces should be c o m p l e t e l y
sealed t o prevent s t a i n i n g and odor a b s o r p t i o n
and t o make c l e a n i n g e a s i e r .
I f 1 i g h t i n g panels a r e used, t h e y should
be nonbreakable.
L i g h t s should be considered
f o r n i g h t use, even i f they have t o be b a t t e r y run.
F l o o r - l e v e l vents on two s i d e s o f t h e
b u i l d i n g a r e e s s e n t i a l f o r v e n t i l a t i o n and
e v a p o r a t i o n o f c l e a n i n g water and u r i n e deposi t s . These vents must be c o n s t r u c t e d o f s t u r dy m a t e r i a l i n o r d e r t o be vandal-proof.
The
screens should be l o c a t e d so as t o prevent
people from k i c k i n g them o u t .
I n a slumpstone b u i l d i n g , p l a c e t h e screens between two
d e c o r a t i v e slump-stone b l o c k s ( b l o c k s w i t h many
holes).
Bui 1d i n g E x t e r i o r
Metal doors may prove more d u r a b l e than
wooden doors.
H y d r a u l i c door c l o s u r e s a r e
b e i n g used t o h e l p prevent people from slamming doors.
A l l e x t e r i o r c o n c r e t e s l a b s and c o n c r e t e
b l o c k o r slump-stone s h o u l d be s e a l e d w i t h a
c l e a r concrete sealer. This i s t o prevent
p a i n t f r o m b e i n g absorbed i n t o t h e b l o c k o r
slump s t o n e , and t o make i t s removal e a s i e r .
I f t h e c o n c r e t e s l a b a l l around t h e b u i l d i n g
i s s e a l e d , s t a i n s w i l l n o t be so n o t i c e a b l e
when t h e i n t e r i o r i s washed o u t o r when t h e
vau l t i s pumped.
F i b e r g l a s s , c o n c r e t e , o r s t e e l should n o t
be c o n s i d e r e d f o r t h e v a u l t p o r t i o n o f t h e
t o i l e t u n l e s s t h e c o n c r e t e i s a c t i n g as a cont a i n e r f o r Hypalon o r c r o s s - 1 inked p o l y e t h ,v -l ene.
A11 s i g n s s h o u l d be s e c u r e l y b o l t e d t o
t h e c o n c r e t e b l o c k , s lump-stone, o r e x t e r i o r
wood frame.
Wall-hung u r i n a l s s h o u l d be a d j u s t e d so
t h a t b o t h c h i l d r e n and a d u l t s can use them.
Floor-mounted u n i t s s a t i s f y a l l needs.
Part
t i o n s n e x t t o u r i n a l s s h o u l d be designed t o
withstand the corrosive e f f e c t o r urine.
Vent ing Techniques
P r o p e r v e n t i n g can by i t s e l f e l i m i n a t e
most o d o r problems d u r i n g t h e use p e r i o d s .
The s i z e o f t h e v e n t s h o u l d be t h e same as t h e
accumulative s i z e o f the v a u l t t o i l e t r i s e r
openings.
For e v e r y v a u l t t o i l e t s e a t , app r o x i m a t e l y 100 square inches o f v e n t a r e a i s
r e q u i r e d . The v e n t s h o u l d go f r o m t h e v a u l t
t h r o u g h t h e b u i l d i n g and t e r m i n a t e a t t h e
I n s u l a t i o n s h o u l d be p l a c e d on
ce-iling level.
t h e j o i s t s w i t h i n t h e a t t i c so t h a t t h e h e a t
generated i n t h e a t t i c w i l l n o t permeate t h e
use compartment. The r o o f i n g m a t e r i a l and
c o n s t r u c t i o n s h o u l d be such as t o induce s o l a r
heat i n t o t h e a t t i c .
A vent, a l i t t l e larger
than t h e vent t e r m i n a t i n g a t t h e c e i l i n g l e v e l ,
s h o u l d be c o n s t r u c t e d t h r o u g h t h e r o o f so t h a t
i t i s above t h e r i d g e h e i g h t .
This vent
s h o u l d be screened f o r f 1 ied.
The sun w i l l h e a t t h e a t t i c c a u s i n g t h e
h o t a i r t o r i s e , and a i r w i l l be p u l l e d down
i n t o t h e v a u l t through t h e t o i l e t seat.
Thus,
t h e o d o r i n t h e use compartment w i l l be e l i m i nated.
Some l a r g e r o c k s o r o t h e r heat-absorbe n t m a t e r i a l p l a c e d i n t h e a t t i c may keep t h i s
f l o w o f a i r g o i n g o n i n t o t h e e a r l y evening.
A r a i n cap s h o u l d be p l a c e d on t h e r o o f
v e n t t o keep w a t e r o u t o f t h e a t t i c . The b o t tom o f t h e r a i n cap s h o u l d be a t l e a s t 3 i n c h es above t h e t o p o f t h e v e n t p i p e so t h a t t h e
wind can f l o w e a s i l y between t h e two.
The asp i r a t i o n o f t h e a t t i c a i r due t o w i n d i s nearl y as e f f e c t i v e as t h e s o l a r heat e f f e c t .
V a u l t Design
The v a u l t s h o u l d have an impermeable l i n e r o r c o n t a i n e r ( e i t h e r Hypalon o r c r o s s - l i n k I t s h o u l d be s l o p e d 1 i n c h
ed p o l y e t h y l e n e ) .
per f o o t from i n s i d e t h e b u i l d i n g t o outside,
s h o u l d be no g r e a t e r t h a n 4 f e e t deep, and
s h o u l d have a minimum 2 4 - i n c h - d i a m e t e r manhole
c o v e r on t h e o u t s i d e o f t h e b u i l d i n g ( t o t h e
rear o r side).
FLUSH TO I LETS
Building I n t e r i o r
I f w a t e r c l o s e t s f o r t h e handicapped a r e
used, a r e g u l a r one s h o u l d be i n s t a l l e d a l s o .
C h i l d r e n and s m a l l a d u l t s have a h a r d t i m e
u s i n g t h e w a t e r c l o s e t s f o r t h e handicapped.
No wood p a n e l i n g s h o u l d be a d j a c e n t t o
t h e w a t e r c l o s e t s o r u r i n a l s because u s e r s
w i l l c a r v e on them.
A l l f l o o r s s h o u l d be
h e a v i l y sealed t o p r e v e n t a b s o r p t i o n o f o d o r s
and t o make c l e a n i n g e a s i e r .
A l l f a u c e t s s h o u l d be f o o t o r knee o p e r ated, w i t h 1 g a l l o n per minute f l o w c o n t r o l
devices placed i n the l i n e s . T h i s w i l l prev e n t a g r e a t deal o f c l e a n u p maintenance by
keeping t h e bowls and f i x t u r e s c l e a n e r .
Paper
d i s p e n s e r s s h o u l d be designed f o r more t h a n
one r o l l .
The i n t e r i o r s h o u l d be w e l l l i g h t e d and
e a s i l y cleaned.
Bui I d i n g E x t e r i o r
The m a t e r i a l used o n t h e e x t e r i o r s h o u l d
be f u n c t i o n a l , l o c a l l y a v a i l a b l e , and inexpens i v e . The p r i v a c y screens s h o u l d be p r i m a r i l y
f u n c t i o n a l , r a t h e r than e s t h e t i c .
I f concrete
o r slump-stone i s used, i t s h o u l d be sealed
w i t h a concrete sealer.
PICNIC TABLES
Fiberglass p i c n i c tables o r covers f o r
e x i s t i n g wood t a b l e s can be made t o v e r y
c l o s e l y resemble wood, t o be heat r e s i s t a n t ,
and t o r e s i s t c a r v i n g w i t h k n i v e s . The f i b e r g l a s s h e l p s p r e v e n t food f r o m b e i n g absorbed
i n t o t h e s u r f a c e o f t h e e x i s t i n g wood t a b l e s
a damp
and p r e s e n t s a c l e a n a b l e s u r f a c e :
c l o t h w i l l c l e a n o f f most n o r m a l l y p r e s e n t
food remains.
I n c o n c l u s i o n , a l l d e s i g n s s h o u l d be
geared toward t h e c o n d i t i o n s i n a g i v e n a r e a
r a t h e r t h a n t o s a t i s f y a d e s i g n e r ' s ego.
Design vs. Vandalism
Arthur C. Danielianl
P u b l i c schools, c i v i c c e n t e r s , p u b l i c 1 i b r a r i e s , y o u t h a c t i v i t y and r e c r e a t i o n cent e r s , and o t h e r p u b l i c - u s e f a c i l i t i e s i n urban
o r suburban p l a c e s a r e designed by a r c h i t e c t u r a l firms i n the p r i v a t e sector f o r various
governmental agencies.
Each p r o j e c t i s designed i n response t o c r i t e r i a , i n c l u d i n g budget l i m i t a t i o n s , developed by t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e agency.
The a r c h i t e c t , d u r i n g t h e design
process on a l l types o f b u i l d i n g s , must maint a i n a proper p e r s p e c t i v e and s e n s i t i v i t y w i t h
respect t o numerous d e s i g n c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g vandalism.
The l e v e l o r p r i o r i t y o f
the design c r i t e r i o n related t o the durabil i t y
o r i n d e s t r u c t i b i l i t y o f a s t r u c t u r e must be
weighed c a r e f u l l y .
Nothing prevents t h e a r c h i t e c t from designing completely i n d e s t r u c t i b l e buildings, other than h i s d e s i r e t o s a t i s f y more h e a v i l y weighted c o n s i d e r a t i o n s and
budget r e s t r a i n t s .
Good a r c h i t e c t u r e i s t h e proper b l e n d i n g
o f b a s i c c o n s i d e r a t i o n s o f f u n c t i o n , economi c s , and e s t h e t i c s .
I n t h e absence o f concern
f o r economics, f o r instance, t h e designer
might produce a p i e c e o f s c u l p t u r e , n o t a r c h i tecture.
I n establishing p r i o r i t i e s o r
p l a c i n g emphasis on any p a r t i c u l a r d e s i g n cons i d e r a t i o n , whether i t be concern f o r vandalism o r concern f o r d e l i c a t e design, t h e a r c h i t e c t must be aware o f these u n d e r l y i n g i n f l u ences r e l a t e d t o t h e u r b a n - s e t t i n g :
S o c i a l -economic c o n d i t i o n s
Age o f community
Relative
rime r a t e and t r e n d s
A t t i t u d e s and values o f t h e people
Density o
i t y and
Existing
ity.
t h e l e v e l o f community anonym-
a r c h i , t e c t u r a l s o l u t i o n f o r a new teen c e n t e r
i n an o l d and economically d e t e r i o r a t e d commun i t y w i t h h i g h vandalism r a t e s w i l l be q u i t e
d i f f e r e n t from one designed f o r a new communit y whose c r i m e r a t e and r e l a t e d c o s t s a r e not
as s e n s i t i v e issues. S i m i l a r l y , a t o i l e t f a c i l i t y l o c a t e d i n w i l d l a n d areas, where t h e
e f f e c t s o f vandal ism absorb perhaps 60 percent
o f t h e o p e r a t i n g budget, i s l i k e l y t o r e q u i r e
f a r more concern f o r d u r a b i l i t y than a teen
c e n t e r i n a new suburban community where vand a l i s m might account f o r l e s s than 3 percent
o f t h e operat i n g budget.
Too o f t e n , b u i l d i n g s a r e designed w i t h
l i t t l e o r no respect t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n s o f 1 i f e
c y c l e vs. i n i t i a l c o s t .
For example, t h e c o s t
t o m a i n t a i n a p u b l i c school o v e r i t s 1 i f e span
o f 50 years i s some 10 times i t s i n i t i a l cons t r u c t i o n c o s t ; y e t i n most cases, t h e budgets
e s t a b l ished f o r such s t r u c t u r e s p r e c l u d e t h e
use o f optimum q u a l i t y m a t e r i a l s , which may
c o s t more i n i t i a l l y but i n t h e long haul save
s u b s t a n t i a l l y more.
Budgets f o r b u i l d i n g s ,
e s p e c i a l l y h i g h - p u b l i c - u s e s t r u c t u r e s , should
be determined from 1 i f e c y c l e s t u d i e s , n o t by
a r b i t r a r y l i m i t s . The a r c h i t e c t working w i t h
h i s c l i e n t can most e f f e c t i v e l y e s t a b l i s h t h e
a p p r o p r i a t e budget f o r any g i v e n p r o j e c t d u r i n g t h e i n i t i a l o r conceptual phase o f design.
Let us examine a few good and bad conc e p t s o f s i t e planning, a r c h i t e c t u r a l d e s i g n
m a t e r i a l s p e c i f i c a t i o n s , and landscape design,
t o high1 i g h t problems o f vandal ism and some
potential solutions.
Older communities, e s p e c i a l l y i n d e t e r i o r a t e d and abandoned areas, become a t t r a c t i v e
nuisances o r t a r g e t s f o r vandals.
Conversely,
i n l i v e l y areas, where m u l t i p l e a c t i v i t i e s i n v o l v e people, t h e ' p e o p l e themselves become
n a t u r a l d e t e r r e n t s t o a c t s o f mischievous vandal ism.
eve1 and respect o f urban q u a l -
The r e l a t ve s t r e n g t h s o f these elements
have important i n f l u e n c e on t h e design.
The
P r e s i d e n t , D a n i e l i a n , Moon, l l g and Associa t e s , A r c h i t e c t s / P l a n n e r s , Newport Beach,
Cal i f o r n i a .
I t ' s u n f o r t u n a t e t h a t some m a g n i f i c e n t
p u b l i c spaces, such as t h e Santa Ana C i v i c
Center, a r e planned f o r shamefully 1 i m i t e d
use. These v a s t - s c a l e and r i c h l y developed
urban spaces a r e used on1 y d u r i n g normal worki n g hours. A m i x t u r e o f pub1 i c , q u a s i - p u b l i c ,
and p r i v a t e commercial uses c o u l d have enhanced and expanded t h e use a c t i v i t i e s i n t o
Preventive Planning to Reduce Vandalism
H. Ernest Reynolds!
The widespread and g r o w i n g problem o f
vandal ism can o n l y be s o l v e d i f we make d r a m a t i c changes i n o u r p l a n n i n g p r o c e s s . The
o l d approaches a r e n o t w o r k i n g , so l e t ' s t h i n k
c r e a t i v e l y toward a new approach.
Our f i r m i s c u r r e n t l y c o m p i l i n g t h e r e s u l t s o f a questionnaire sent t o park d i r e c t o r s i n s e l e c t e d c i t i e s and c o u n t i e s t h r o u g h out California.
So f a r w e ' v e had a 30 p e r c e n t
response, w h i c h i s f a n t a s t i c .
I t shows t h e
intense i n t e r e s t i n park f i n a n c i n g , maintenance, and o p e r a t i o n . The p r e l i m i n a r y d a t a
a l s o show t h e i n c r e a s i n g p r o b l e m o f vandalism.
Parks have been a v e r y i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f
my e n t i r e l i f e .
I ' v e worked i n them, p l a y e d
i n them, planned them, and devoted y e a r s t o
d i s c o v e r i n g ways t o make them s e r v e t h e p u b l i c
b e t t e r w h i l e a t t h e same t i m e p r e s e r v i n g e n v i ronmental v a l u e s .
I t ' s because o f my s i n c e r e
p e r s o n a l and p r o f e s s i o n a l i n t e r e s t t h a t I
v a l u e t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o s h a r e 10 ideas f o r
r e d u c i n g p a r k vandal ism.
] - - I d e n t i f y your vandal.
Remember t h a t
y o u r vandal i s a l s o y o u r p a r k u s e r . Who a r e
t h e groups who d e s e c r a t e o u r p a r k s ? Have you
e v e r t r i e d t o i d e n t i f y them? I know f r o m my
e x p e r i e n c e t h a t some o f t h e s e a r e i n t e r e s t
groups we have i g n o r e d o v e r t h e y e a r s . There
p r o b a b l y i s n ' t any p a r k manager who h a s n ' t
t u r n e d h i s back on p e r m i t t i n g two-wheeled
b i k e s , four-wheeled o f f - r e a d e r s , skateboarde r s , hang g l i d e r s , gun c l u b s , even n u d i e s f r o m
u s i n g o u r parks.
Perhaps some o f t h e v a n d a l ism i s due t o t h e p e o p l e t h a t we have k e p t o u t
o f our parks.
We s h o u l d a s k o u r s e l v e s whom we
have l e f t o u t and why.
How would you f e e l as an u r b a n r e s i d e n t
i f you a r r i v e d a t a remote campground and you
found t h e same system used as i n t h e super
market checkout s t a n d t o g a i n access t o a
camping s p o t ? Then, t o make i t worse, you
found t h a t t h e camping a r e a was designed f o r a
d i f f e r e n t t y p e o f camping v e h i c l e f r o m y o u r s .
What t h o u g h t s r u n t h r o u g h y o u r mind when you
go i n t o a camp a r e a p l a n n i n g t o g a t h e r wood
f o r f i r e and you f i n d o u t t h a t i t i s n o t
Reynolds and A s s o c i a t e s , Environmental An a l y s i s F o u n d a t i o n , Newport Beach, C a l i f o r n i a .
a l l o w e d ? You p r o b a b l y end up d r i v i n g t o t h e
general s t o r e and p a y i n g a fancy p r i c e f o r
charcoal b r i q u e t t e s .
Might the thought j u s t
r u n t h r o u g h your mind t h a t you would sneak o u t
i n t o t h e woods and c o l l e c t some wood f o r your
f i r e ? And t h e r e b y be c o n s i d e r e d a v a n d a l ?
L e t ' s t a k e a n o t h e r example i n an u r b a n
p a r k . The P l a n n i n g Department o f a c i t y dec i d e s t h a t a p a r t i c u l a r a r e a s h o u l d be m a i n l y
i n e x p e n s i v e homes w i t h t h r e e o r f o u r bedrooms.
T h i s means t h a t t h e r e w i l l b e many mothers and
t o t s . T h i s f u r t h e r means t h a t t h e community
p a r k w i l l l i k e l y be designed s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r
t h e s e u s e r s . What happens t o t h e 1 1 - t o 15year o l d s ? I f you have e v e r had any c h i l d r e n
o f j u n i o r h i g h school age, I t h i n k y o u ' l l ag r e e t h a t t h e y a r e t h e most a c t i v e and o r n e r i e s t group imaginable.
Yet, we p l a n o u r p a r k s
so t h a t t h e y have l i t t l e appeal t o t h i s group
d u r i n g t h e daytime.
Instead, they gather i n
groups a t n i g h t , where t h e t e m p t a t i o n i s g r e a t
t o show o f f t h e i r budding m a t u r i t y by a c t s o f
vandal ism.
A r e n ' t we as p l a n n e r s , f o r e s t e r s , and
park o f f i c i a l s o f t e n g u i l t y o f l a y i n g the
groundwork f o r p a r k vandal ism? T h i n k about
it.
2 - - L i s t e n t o t h e land.
Before p u t t i n g
your p e n c i l t o paper, g e t t o know t h e l a n d you
a r e working w i t h .
I f i t i s a wilderness o r
f o r e s t l a n d , s l e e p w i t h i t . Know e v e r y t r e e ,
r o c k o u t c r o p p i n g , d r a i n a g e c h a n n e l , and v i e w
by h e a r t .
Know t h e s o i l , r a i n f a l I , v e g e t a t i o n , and compact i o n and e r o s i o n p o t e n t i a l
I d e n t i f y views, a m e n i t i e s , and f e a t u r e s on a
base map and superimpose a l l elements o f importance u n t i l t h e usable landforms stand o u t
clearly.
A l s o , c o n s i d e r t h e l e s s o b v i o u s conc e r n s , such as n o i s e , w i n d , l i g h t p a t t e r n s
from passing v e h i c l e s , etc.
.
3 - - L i s t e n t o t h e people.
When was t h e
l a s t t i m e vou went o u t i n t o t h e ark and t a l k may be a few
ed t o t h e p e o p l e u s i n g i t ?
o f you who do t h i s r o u t i n e l y , b u t I d o u b t i t .
And y e t , u n l e s s we g e t f r o m b e h i n d o u r desks
t o t a l k w i t h men, women, and c h i l d r e n d e r i v i n g
b e n e f i t s f r o m o u r p a r k s , a l l o u r p l a n n i n g and
o p e r a t i o n p h i l o s o p h y i s r e a l ly t h e o r e t i c a l
I t h i n k you must r e a l i z e
rather than actual.
here
t h a t t h e vandal i s n o t j u s t a n o t h e r " t u r k e y "
f r o m t h e c i t y , b u t a person w i t h needs t h a t
a r e n o t being s a t i s f i e d i n our parks a t t h e
present time.
Oh, yes, t h e r e a r e some vandals
who j u s t d o n ' t know any b e t t e r o r t h e y have
d e s t r u c t i v e t e n d e n c i e s because o f a psychologi c a l problem.
But I ' m n o t r e a l l y t a l k i n g ab o u t them.
I ' m t a l k i n g a b o u t t h e p e r s o n who
v a n d a l i z e s because he i s angry.
Angry because
he f e e l s t h a t he has been l e f t o u t .
There i s
much t h a t you and I can do, n o t j u s t t o hear
what p e o p l e t h i n k about o u r p a r k s , b u t t o
l i s t e n t o t h e i r needs.
There i s a d i f f e r e n c e .
Hearing i s merely t h e physical a c t o f receivi n g a sound, whereas l i s t e n i n g imp1 i e s understanding.
4--Kick your planner.
Be s u r e y o u r p l a n n e r i s a w a k e ~ g e thim o u t o f h i s o f f i c e - - b e f o r e , d u r i n g , and a f t e r t h e p a r k p r o j e c t .
Encourage h i m t o t r y new communication t e c h n i q u e s and workshop processes.
Send him t o
c o n f e r e n c e s and a l l o w h i m t o work w i t h o t h e r
professionals.
Be s u r e t h e p l a n n e r knows a l l
t h e o p e r a t i o n and maintenance problems.
Have
him spend a week w i t h a crew, o r f i n d ways he
can improve o p e r a t i o n s t h r o u g h d e s i g n .
But
most i m p o r t a n t , be s u r e he i s awake--and
l e a r n i n g e v e r y t h i n g he can about your agency
and i t s problems. The p l a n n e r i s t h e man i n
the middle.
He s h o u l d be g e t t i n g feedback
from t h e b o t t o m up and f r o m t h e t o p down. Unl e s s he g e t s t h i s , he cannot be e f f e c t i v e .
I f you use o u t s i d e c o n s u l t a n t s , k i c k them
h a r d e r . They need t o g e t more feedback f r o m
more p e o p l e i n l e s s t i m e i n o r d e r f o r them t o
o f f e r added v a l u e .
D o n ' t be a f r a i d t o m i x
o u t s i d e c o n s u l t a n t s w i t h s t a f f on a g i v e n
assignment.
The c o m p e t i t i o n and i n t e r a c t i o n
can do wonders f o r b o t h . Tremendously e f f e c t i v e p r o b l e m s o l v i n g can be accomplished i n
s h o r t p e r i o d s o f t i m e f r o m t h i s synergism.
5--Throw o u t t h e budget.
"Cheap i s t h e
v a n d a l ' s meat."
The b u d a e t ~ o f t e nb r o k e n ap a r t and a l l o c a t e d b e f o r e any o f t h e above
s t e p s have been t a k e n ~ b e c o m e s a c a t a l y s t t o
vandalism.
F i r s t , r e l a t e what you found o u t
f r o m t h e l a n d t o t h e needs o f t h e u s e r .
See
i f t h e s i t e i s adequate, whether b o u n d a r i e s
need a d j u s t m e n t , whether t h e c a p a c i t y t o accommodate e x i s t s .
I f t h e answers a r e a f f i r m a t i v e , t h e n p r e p a r e a t l e a s t t h r e e t o f i v e a1t e r n a t i v e c o n c e p t s , any o f w h i c h c o u l d be a
solution.
A word o f c a u t i o n :
d o n ' t confuse
v a r i a t i o n s on a theme w i t h a l t e r n a t i v e s .
<
A t t h i s p o i n t , you s h o u l d p r e p a r e a composite plan o r synthesis.
Evolve i t using
t h e workshop p l a n n i n g process.
Based o n t h i s
"best1' concept,
do a c o s t e s t i m a t e and
budget r e l a t e d t o t h e l i f e o f t h e f a c i l i t y .
6--Burn y o u r s t a n d a r d s .
Most equipment
s t a n d a r d s and most c a t a l o g s a r e o u t o f d a t e .
The equipment i s s t a t i c , o f t e n u n d e r s t r e s s e d ,
and has l i m i t e d l i f e .
I am d i s h e a r t e n e d a t
t h e t r e n d toward f i b e r g l a s s equipment.
My exp e r i e n c e has shown t h i s m a t e r i a l t o be h i g h l y
s u s c e p t i b l e t o e a r l y a g i n g and changes. A v o i d
i t wherever p o s s i b l e , and i n s t e a d b u i l d
s t r o n g e r and l o n g e r - l a s t i n g f a c i l i t i e s - - b e t t e r
c u l v e r t s , restrooms, and community b u i l d i n g s .
D o n ' t h e s i t a t e t o be a p i o n e e r .
I say t h i s
because i n a l l s i n c e r i t y I f e e l t h a t i s i s up
t o t h e p l a n n e r and d e s i g n e r t o be t h e s o u r c e
o f new ideas. We s h o u l d be t h e ones t e l l i n g
t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r s what we need and what we
want f o r l o n g - r a n g e p a r k usage. The manufact u r e r and t h e workmen a l l l o o k t o t h e d e s i g n e r
f o r guidance.
I f we d o n ' t p r o v i d e t h i s , t h e n
we d e s e r v e t h e s e c o n d - r a t e equipment and mater i a l s we now have.
7--Design f o r t h e c e n t u r i e s ( n o t 1380).
So many t h i n a s Seem t o have a l i f e s p a n r e l a t e d
t o man's own; n o t so a p a r k .
Parks remain-t h e y o f t e n l a s t f o r c e n t u r i e s , and s h o u l d .
So
w i l l o u r pub1 i c l a n d s and remote a r e a s , i f
history i s correct.
-
The q u e s t i o n i s what do we do w i t h a p a r c e l o f l a n d t h a t w i l l be h e r e f o r c e n t u r i e s ,
b u t w h i c h i s p a r t o f a 1980 r e c r e a t i o n p l a n .
W e l l , 1 b e l i e v e we must d e s i g n f o r t h e l o n g e r
period o f time.
We need h e a v i e r c o n s t r u c t i o n ;
g r e a t e r s t r e n g t h , d u r a b i l i t y , and u s a b i l i t y ;
and l e s s i n t e n s i v e use, b u t more d u r a b l e e l e ments. We a l s o need more s i t e s w i t h f e w e r ,
b e t t e r p l a c e d , and more d u r a b l e p i c n i c and
camping spaces.
Each p l a n n e r s h o u l d a s k hims e l f what h i s s o l u t i o n w i l l be l i k e i n 20 t o
50 y e a r s r a t h e r t h a n 5 y e a r s f r o m t h e d a t e o f
completion.
So what a b o u t m a t e r i a l s ? Vandals d e s t r o y
everything i n s i g h t i f a park i s not policed.
I n d e s i g n i n g f o r t h e n e x t c e n t u r y , we
recommend a r e t u r n t o s t o n e and o t h e r masonry,
r e i n f o r c e d c o n c r e t e , and hardwoods, as w e l l as
wood-imprinted c o n c r e t " .
We suggest fewer
man-made elements, n o t more.
Fewer s i g n s , b u t
b e t t e r d e t a i l e d ; fewer l o g c u r b s , and no f i b e r g l a s s any p l a c e . We suggest r e i n f o r c e d
c o n c r e t e restrooms b u i l t i n t o t h e h i l l s i d e - opening o n l y on one side--and t h a t s i d e t o
p u b l i c view.
What a b o u t p o l i c i n g a t n i g h t ? We suggest
t h a t County government, f o r example, use Count y parks f o r f i r e s t a t i o n s i t e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y
when gated p a r k e n t r i e s a r e i m p r a c t i c a l . T h i s
would p l a c e p e o p l e and l i g h t w i t h i n t h e p a r k
It i s also a cost-effective
24 hours a day.
decision, i n that f i r e stations a r e otherwise
p l a c e d on e x p e n s i v e l a n d , purchased f o r a s i n g l e use.
F i r e s t a t i o n s themselves can t h e n be
m u l t i - p u r p o s e p a r k s t r u c t u r e s and e n c l o s e a
p a r k o f f i c e , pub1 i c r e s t r o o m s , l i b r a r y , p o s t
office, etc.
We can no l o n g e r a f f o r d s i n g l e use, s i n g l e - a g e n c y , s i n g l e - p u r p o s e t h i n k i n g .
For m u l t i - p u r p o s e s t r u c t u r e s we can a f f o r d
vandal-resistant materials.
S i m i l a r l y , parki n g and o t h e r f a c i l i t i e s s h o u l d s e r v e m u l t i p l e
users.
I t h i n k we a r e making unhappy u s e r s , and
hence more v a n d a l s , because o f t h e c u r r e n t
t r e n d t o a p l a n n i n g p o l i c y o f keeping campers
c l o s e t o g e t h e r , w i t h spaces more compact f o r
c o n t r o l and l e s s damage t o t h e f o r e s t a r e a .
T h e o r e t i c a l l y , i t p r o v i d e s more s a f e t y , l e s s
p o l i c i n g , e t c . T h i s t o me i s a f o r m u l a f o r
disaster.
Too many people, overuse, s m a l l
spaces, t o o many c o n t r o l s , f i b e r g l a s s benches,
c a t a l o g f i r e p l a c e s , and r e g i m e n t a t i o n cause
s t r e s s , j u s t as t o o much n o i s e , l i g h t , smoke,
dust, e t c . r e s u l t i n complaints.
A l o w - d e n s i t y campground, open and w e l l
spaced, w i t h f r e e a r e a s and fewer c o n t r o l s
w i l l r e s u l t i n a b e t t e r long-ranged f a c i l i t y - and a l l o w f l e x i b i l i t y f o r f u t u r e a d j u s t m e n t s .
I b e l i e v e s t r o n g l y t h a t overcrowding i n
f o r e s t and p a r k campgrounds i s t h e cause o f
t h e w o r s t v a n d a l i s m o f a l l - - p e n e t r a t i o n and
d e s t r u c t i o n o f t h e "back c o u n t r y " by those
s t i l l s e e k i n g t o g e t away f o r a w h i l e .
We
must p r o v i d e t h a t escape t h r o u g h p l a n n i n g p r e s e n t spaces b e t t e r .
8--Experience t h e e r r o r s . One s e r i o u s
m i s t a k e we d e s i g n e r s make i s t h a t we do n o t go
back and e x p e r i e n c e o u r e r r o r s . We a l s o make
a l o t o f unnecessary excuses. We're human and
we a r e l e a r n i n g as we go. We become accessor i e s t o v a n d a l i s m , however, by n o t r e v i s i t i n g
t h e work t h a t we have designed. We s h o u l d r e t u r n t o t h e p a r k and a c t u a l l y camp o u t . Ming l e w i t h the users.
Observe. Ask q u e s t i o n s .
C e r t a i n l y t h e u s e r s w i l l a p p r e c i a t e t h e expressed i n t e r e s t .
Besides, we may l e a r n something.
9 - - C o r r e c t y o u r problems--be i n n o v a t i v e .
Once problems and e r r o r s (new and o l d ) have
been i d e n t i f i e d , be a g g r e s s i v e and i n n o v a t i v e
i n s o l v i n g them.
D o n ' t go on t h e premise,
''Well, we missed on t h a t one; w e ' l l n o t do t h e
same t h i n g n e x t time," and t h e n l e a v e t h e
problems u n r e s o l v e d .
I n s t e a d , l e t me t e l l you
what I t h i n k i s an i n n o v a t i v e approach t h a t
involves budgeting f o r innovation.
How can you i n n o v a t e ? By b o r r o w i n g a
t e c h n i q u e used i n p r o g r e s s i v e i n d u s t r i a l o r g a n i z a t i o n s . They t o o s e t up budgets f o r c a p i t a l i n v e s t m e n t , o p e r a t i o n , maintenance, e t c .
B u t t h e y go one s t e p f u r t h e r .
They s e t a s i d e
funds f o r c o s t - e f f e c t i v e d e s i g n research.
We
can use t h e same t e c h n i q u e , b u t w i t h a m i n o r
variation.
I n s t e a d o f each i n d i v i d u a l c i t y o r
c o u n t y b e a r i n g t h e t o t a l c o s t o f t h i s program,
a g e n c i e s and c o u n t i e s s h o u l d g e t t o g e t h e r w i t h
o t h e r s h a v i n g common needs. Set up a p o o l o f
f u n d s f o r t e s t s i t e s and l e a r n i n g workshops.
10--Communicate t h r o u g h g r a p h i c s .
Last,
b u t e x t r e m e l y important--communicate i n f o r m a l -
l y and c o n c i s e l y t h r o u g h g r a p h i c s . U s i n g
pages and p l a c a r d s f u l l o f r u l e s summarized
i n p e n a l t i e s i s o f f e n s i v e communication.
One
I
would n o t do t h a t t o a g u e s t i n h i s home.
advocate s i m p l e , c l e a r , f r i e n d l y g r a p h i c s that
exude a welcome.
Remember, t h e u s e r s t i l l
f e e l s t h e p i n c h o f f i n a n c i n g p u b l i c works, so
he views p u b l i c l a n d as " h i s " space. T h i s
s h o u l d be emphasized i n a l l agency p o l i c i e s .
I n f a c t , i f t h e u s e r r e a l i z e s he p a i d f o r i t ,
he may r e s p e c t i t more. To be g r e e t e d w i t h a
p e n a l t y c l a u s e a t t h e f r o n t door and r u l e s o f
use seems t o be poor p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s . Adm i t t e d l y , t h i s v i e w i s o v e r s i m p l i f i e d , b u t the
message g i v e n t h e p u b l i c i s e x t r e m e l y import a n t ; and i t i s o f t e n t h e v e r y f i r s t impress i o n r e c e i v e d by t h e p a r k u s e r .
Funds spent
on p r o f e s s i o n a l g r a p h i c s , concepts, and commun i c a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s a r e u s u a l l y n o t wasted-n o r i s t h e t i m e spent on a warm welcome.
SUMMARY
We p l a n n e r s a r e p a r t l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r
vandalism--and vandals a r e p e o p l e , u s e r s whose
needs a r e n o t met.
Decreased vandal ism w i 11 r e s u l t f rom prov i d i n g f a c i l i t i e s t h a t a r e rugged--yet s a t i s f y
a l l age l e v e l s i n a f r i e n d l y , uncrowded atmosphere.
F a c i l i t i e s must r e l a t e t o t h e s i t e i n a
f u n c t i o n a l y e t s e n s i t i v e manner, w i t h an
understanding o f the h o l d i n g c a p a c i t y o f the
site.
Budgets and s t a n d a r d s need t o change i n
t h e i r r e l a t i v e importance, and r e s e a r c h funds
must be used i n case s t u d i e s .
Overuse i s an extreme t h r e a t i n t h e f u t u r e , and crowding w i l l cause s t r e s s and r e s u l t i n g r e a t e r problems than can be e a s i l y
solved.
And l a s t , each p l a n n e r has many c h o i c e s
t o make, and l o t s o f room f o r g r o w t h t o imp r o v e h i s d e s i g n s - - i t ' s a much b r o a d e r quest i o n than new c o a t i n g s and f i n i s h e s - - i t ' s p r e vention through process-oriented design
and
most eyes a r e on t h e p l a n n e r .
...
REFERENCES
Newman, Oscar
1972. D e f e n s i b l e space. The M a c M i l l a n
Company, New York. 264 p., i l l u s .
Sommer, Robert
1969. Personal space, t h e behav o r a l b a s i s
o f d e s i g n . P r e n t i c e - H a l l , Eng ewood
C l i f f s , New J e r s e y .
177 p., i l u s .
Proshansky, H . M., W. H. I t t e l s o n , and L. G .
Rivl in, editors
1970. Environmental p s y c h o l o g y : man and
h i s physical setting.
H o l t , R n e h a r t and
Winston, New York.
690 p., i l us.
SOCIOLOGY OF VANDALISM Photo: East Bay Regional Park District
Research to determine the kinds of recreational opportunities desired
b y different groups can help t o ensure that varying cultural needs are
satisfied.
Vandals Aren't All Bad
Michael L. ~ i l l i a m s l
Vandal ism i s one o f many d i v e r s e a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e broad c a t e g o r y o f c r i m i n a l behavior.
F o r s o c i o l o g i c a l a n a l y s i s , then, b o t h
c r i m i n a l b e h a v i o r and vandal ism must be defined.
Any b e h a v i o r i n v i o l a t i o n o f t h e c r i m i n a l
I f t h e r e i s no
law i s c r i m i n a l b e h a v i o r .
s t a t u t e c o v e r i n g such b e h a v i o r , t h e r e can be,
g i v e n o u r c o n s t i t u t i o n , no v i o l a t i o n o f t h e
c r i m i n a l law.
O f course, p r a c t i c a l l y speaking, matching s t a t u t e s w i t h concrete behavior
i s n o t always a s i m p l e t a s k .
However, t h a t i s
n o t o u r problem.
Vandalism i s somewhat more d i f f i c u l t t o
I f we t u r n t o t h e penal code we f i n d
define.
t h a t t h e r e i s no such o f f e n s e as "vandalism,''
though t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f " m a l i c i o u s m i s c h i e f "
c l o s e l y corresponds t o a commonsense d e f i n i t i o n o f vandalism.
"Malicious mischief" i s ,
simply, t h e malicious o r i n t e n t i o n a l i n j u r y t o
o r d e s t r u c t i o n o f r e a l o r p e r s o n a l p r o p e r t y by
someone o t h e r t h a n t h e owner. The law,
though, t e l l s us n o t h i n g about how and why
p e o p l e engage i n a c t s o f m a l i c i o u s m i s c h i e f o r
vandal ism.
There a r e s e v e r a l r e l a t e d i s s u e s here:
1. A c t s o f v a n d a l i s m do n o t d i f f e r q u a l i t a t i v e l y f r o m o t h e r types o f human b e h a v i o r .
2.
A c t s o f vandal ism o c c u r i n t h e c o u r s e
o f o r as t h e r e s u l t s o f s o c i a l i n t e r a c t i o n .
3. The c r e a t i o n o f laws and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r u l e s (as i n n a t i o n a l , s t a t e , and l o c a l
p a r k s and r e c r e a t i o n a r e a s ) s e r v e s t o f o c u s
b o t h o f f i c i a l and p u b l i c a t t e n t i o n on t h e
vandal ism problem.
The f i r s t p o i n t , t h e n , i s t h a t a c t s o f
vandal ism do n o t d i f f e r qua1 i t a t i v e l y f r o m
o t h e r t y p e s o f human b e h a v i o r .
Emile ~urkheim;
A s s i s t a n t P r o f e s s o r , Department o f S o c i o l ogy, U n i v e r s i t y o f Maine, Portland-Gorham.
Durkheim, E m i l e
1933. On t h e d i v i s i o n o f l a b o r i n s o c i e ty.
Macmillan.
1938. The r u l e s o f t h e s o c i o l o g i c a l
method.
F r e e Press, New York.
.
an e a r l y b u t i n f l u e n t i a l s o c i o l o g i s t , n o t e d
t h a t c r r m e was a normal f e a t u r e o f a complex
society.
Crime, moveover, had a p o s i t i v e
f u n c t i o n i n t h a t d e t e c t i o n and punishment o f
v i o l a t o r s served t o r e i n f o r c e c o l l e c t i v e bel i e f i n t h e s o c i a l system and i t s v a l u e s .
A l t h o u g h i t i s d i f f i c u l t t o condone
c a r v i n g o n e ' s i n i t i a l s on a p i c n i c t a b l e ,
s p r a y - p a i n t i n g a r o c k o r t r e e , p l u g g i n g up
t h e plumbing i n a r e s t r o o m , o r dumping o v e r
t r a s h cans, we n o n e t h e l e s s e n s h r i n e s i m i l a r
a s s a u l t s on o u r environment when p e r p e t r a t e d
by a h i s t o r i c a l f i g u r e o r an a n c i e n t unknown,
o r when t h e a c t i t s e l f r e i n f o r c e s a c o l l e c t i v e
o r n a t i o n a l consciousness. Thus, when an
e n t e r p r i s i n g h o t e l p r o p r i e t o r pushed some
b u r n i n g embers o v e r t h e t o p o f G l a c i e r P o i n t
i n Yosemite, a t r a d i t i o n was begun t h a t l a s t e d
o v e r s e v e n t y - f i v e y e a r s and was h a l t e d n o t because i t was wrong i n p r i n c i p l e , b u t because
i t was c a u s i n g a massive t r a f f i c jam and l a w
enforcement problems.
I n t h e same N a t i o n a l
Park, someone a c t u a l l y c a r v e d a t u n n e l t h r o u g h
a G i a n t Sequoia.
U n t i l t h e t r e e f e l l down a
few y e a r s ago, t h i s was a n o t h e r h i g h l i g h t o f a
t r i p t o Yosemite.
Today we a t t e m p t t o p r e s e r v e t h e a c t s o f I n d i a n s who defaced t h e
w a l l s o f caves hundreds o f y e a r s ago, an a c t
t h a t , i f done t o d a y i n t h e same l o c a t i o n ,
would r e s u l t i n p r o s e c u t i o n i f t h e c u l p r i t
c o u l d be caught.
F i n a l l y , l e t us n o t f o r g e t
t h e grandest a c t o f a l l .
F i r s t conceived i n
t h e e a r l y 19201s, Mount Rushmore, w i t h t h e
faces o f Washington, L i n c o l n , J e f f e r s o n , and
Roosevelt, i s u n d o u b t e d l y one o f t h e most
r e v e r e d examples o f t h e s a n c t i o n e d d e s t r u c t i o n
o f t h e p u b l i c domain.
The q u e s t i o n , then, i s what d i s t i n g u i s h e s
t h e s e a c t s f r o m t h e senseless d e s t r u c t i o n and
defacement n o r m a l l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h vandal ism?
The o n l y response t h a t I can defend i s t h a t
none o f t h e l a s t d e s c r i b e d a c t s were v i o l a t i o n s o f t h e law a t t h e t i m e t h e y were committed.
I t s h o u l d be noted t h a t t h e e x a c t n a t u r e
o f t h e a c t d i d n o t go u n n o t i c e d by t h e propon e n t s o f t h e " c r e a t i o n o f a symbol o f t h e national spirit."
For work t o go ahead o n Mount
Rushmore, b o t h S t a t e and F e d e r a l l e g i s l a t i o n
had t o be enacted.
Otherwise, by l a w t h e
s c u l p t i n g would have c o n s t i t u t e d t h e i n t e n t i o n a l d e s t r u c t i o n and defacement o f t h e
n a t u r a l environment.
Each o f t h e s e a c t s ,
though, were c o m p l e t e l y l e g a l a t t h e t i m e
t h e y were a c t u a l l y u n d e r t a k e n .
Yet i f I m a i n t a i n t h a t t h e o n l y d i s t i n c t i o n between v a n d a l i s m and nonvandalism i s
t h a t t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o r defacement o f p r o p e r t y
i s i l l e g a l , t h e n I am a s s e r t i n g t h a t d e s t r o y i n g a r e s t r o o m i s q u a l i t a t i v e l y t h e same as
d e s t r o y i n g "an o l d p a r k h e a d q u a r t e r s " t o make
way f o r t h e new, o r t h a t c a r v i n g o n e ' s i n i t i a l s
on a t r e e i s merely a small-scale v e r s i o n o f
what l o g g i n g o p e r a t i o n s do t o f o r e s t s , namely
d e f a c e and/or d e s t r o y .
Clearly there i s a
difference, a l b e i t a c u l t u r a l l y defined d i f ference.
Namely, one c l a s s o f a c t i v i t y i s o f
d i r e c t economic i m p o r t a n c e and t h e o t h e r i s
not.
A n o t h e r way o f s t a t i n g t h e d i s t i n c t i o n
i s t h a t one c l a s s o f a c t i v i t y has u t i l i t y b u t
t h e o t h e r does n o t . The reason t h e d i s t i n c t i o n i s merely c u l t u r a l i s t h a t our c u l t u r e
r e a d i l y p r o v i d e s us w i t h a r a t i o n a l e f o r t h e
d e s t r u c t i o n t h a t n e c e s s a r i l y accompanies l o g g i n g o p e r a t i o n s , whereas we a r e u s u a l l y h a r d
p u t t o d i s c o v e r l o g i c a l reasons f o r t h e seemi n g l y wanton d e s t r u c t i o n o f p r o p e r t y t h a t we
c a l 1 vandal ism.
R e c e n t l y , however, s o c i o l o g i s t s 3 have
n o t e d , based o n 1 i m i t e d d a t a , t h a t such
' s e n s e l e s s " and a p p a r e n t l y n o n r a t i o n a l v a n d a l ism i s , f r o m t h e p o i n t o f v i e w o f t h e perpet r a t o r , a r a t i o n a l and i n s t r u m e n t a l a c t . To
r e t u r n t o t h e main p o i n t t h e n :
vandalism i s
not q u a l i t a t i v e l y d i f f e r e n t from o t h e r types
o f social action.
I t i s c l e a r f r o m my p e r s p e c t i v e t h a t t h e r e a r e many, many examples o f
d e s t r u c t i v e a c t i v i t y which d i f f e r from those
a c t s we r e f e r t o as v a n d a l i s m o n l y i n t h a t
t h e y a r e n o t v i o l a t i o n s o f t h e law. And i f
t h e law i s t h e o n l y d i s t i n c t i o n one can make,
then i t i s l i k e l y t h a t from time t o time the
law w i l l be v i o l a t e d .
The second p o i n t I would l i k e t o address
C l i n a r d , Marshal 1 B., and Andrew L. Wade
1958. Toward t h e d e l i n e a t i o n o f v a n d a l ism as a s u b - t y p e i n j u v e n i l e d e l i n quency. J. C r i m . Law, Criminal. and
P o l i c e S c i . 48~493-499.
Cohen, A l b e r t
195.5. D e l i n q u e n t boys.
F r e e Press, New
York.
Cohen, S t a n l e y
973.
Property destruction:
m o t i v e s and
meanings.
p. 23-53.
In Vandalism.
Co1 i n Ward, e d i t o r .
Architectural
P r e s s , London.
Wade, Andrew L.
1967.
S o c i a l processes i n t h e a c t o f
j u v e n i l e vandalism.
i n C r i m i n a l beh a v i o r systems.
M a r s h a l l B. C l i n a r d
and R i c h a r d Quinney, e d i t o r s .
Holt,
R i n e h a r t , and Winston, New York.
i s t h e a s s e r t i o n t h a t a c t s o f vandalism occur
i n t h e course o f s o c i a l i n t e r a c t i o n .
wade3
has s i m i l a r l y n o t e d , " . . . I n
a c t u a l i t y much
p r o p e r t y d e s t r u c t i o n by j u v e n i l e s i s a s p o n t a neous o u t g r o w t h o f g r o u p i n t e r a c t i o n h a v i n g
s o c i a l , c u l t u r a l and e c o l o g i c a l d e t e r m i n a n t s . "
Because v a n d a l s a r e seldom apprehended i n t h e
a c t , i t i s easy t o suppose t h a t t h e c u l p r i t
was a c t i n g as a n i n d i v i d u a l - - a s u p p o s i t i o n
which, o f c o u r s e , reduces t h e v i s i b i l i t y o f
s o c i a l i n t e r a c t ion.
However, t h e r e s e a r c h o f
Wade and S t a n l e y cohen3 i n d i c a t e s t h a t "vand a l ism i s a l m o s t always a g r o u p r a t h e r t h a n an
i n d i v i d u a l offense."
I t i s t h i s p o i n t , t h a t v a n d a l i s m most
o f t e n i s a g r o u p o f f e n s e and o c c u r s as t h e
r e s u l t o f i n t e r a c t i o n between g r o u p members,
t h a t remains r e m a r k a b l y u n e x p l o r e d b y s o c i o l o g i s t s . 4 By i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e i n t e r a c t i o n w h i c h
accompanies a c t s o f v a n d a l i s m , t h e s i m i l a r i t y
between v a n d a l i s m and o t h e r a c t i o n , such as
p l a y , w i l l be i l l u s t r a t e d a s w e l l .
Two examp l e s i m m e d i a t e l y come t o mind where t h e p l a y
s i t u a t i o n merges w i t h a c t i v i t y t h a t c o u l d be
d e f i n e d as vanda 1 ism.
The f i r s t was p r o v i d e d b y a c o l l e a g u e .
When he was a boy back i n M i n n e s o t a he went
hunting with a friend.
On t h e day i n quest i o n , though, game was n o t t o be found.
Not a
s h o t was f i r e d u n t i l one y o u t h c h a l l e n g e d t h e
o t h e r , "Bet you c a n ' t h i t t h a t g l a s s t h i n g up
there."
The o t h e r boy c o u l d , and t h e r e s t o f
t h e day was s p e n t s h o o t i n g g l a s s i n s u l a t o r s
o f f power p o l e s .
The o t h e r case t h a t comes t o mind d a t e s
f r o m my own boyhood. Once, I and t h e o t h e r
neighborhood c h i l d r e n o f t h e p o s t w a r baby boom
were engaged i n o u r u s u a l a f t e r - s c h o o l d i r t
c l o d b a t t l e . T h i s a f t e r n o o n , though, we
d r i f t e d i n t o a n o r a n g e g r o v e . As m i g h t b e e x p e c t e d , d i r t c l o d s q u i c k l y gave way t o oranges
as symbol i c m i s s i l e s o f d e s t r u c t i o n .
I t was
n o t u n t i l a mother, u n f o r t u n a t e l y mine, l o o k i n g f o r h e r wayward son, d i s c o v e r e d t h e b a t t l e
t h a t i t was b r o u g h t t o a c o n c l u s i o n .
I n b o t h examples t h e d e s t r u c t i o n w h i c h
o c c u r r e d was l a r g e l y i n c i d e n t a l t o t h e a c t .
I n s u l a t o r s were s h o t a s d e m o n s t r a t i o n s o f
marksmanship r a t h e r t h a n o b j e c t s o f d e s t r u c tion.
Oranges s e r v e d as m i s s i l e s r a t h e r t h a n
o b j e c t s t o be d e s t r o y e d .
I n a d d i t i o n , these
p a r t i c u l a r a c t s were n o t s o l i t a r y b u t o c c u r r e d
I n s t e a d t h e y have f o c u s e d o n t h e e p i d e m i o l o g y o f vandalism.
Much has been w r i t t e n
about t h e s o c i o c u l t u r a 1 v a r i a b l e s associated
w i t h vandalism but l i t t l e about t h e a c t o f
vandalism i t s e l f .
See:
Bates, W i 1 1 iam, and Thomas McJunkins
1962. Vandal ism and s t a t u s d i f f e r e n c e s .
~ a c .S o c i o . R e v . 2:89-92.
i n t h e c o u r s e o f i n t e r a c t i o n between two o r
more persons.
By i n t e r a c t i o n I do n o t mean t o
i n f e r t h a t e x t e n s i v e d i s c u s s i o n must p r e f a c e
Interaction simply
any a c t o f vandalism.
means t h e communication o f i n f o r m a t i o n . Thus,
i n t h e f i r s t case t h e d a r e o r "bet" c o n s t i t u t e s a t e n t a t i v e p r o p o s a l f o r a c t i o n . The
a c t u a l s h o o t i n g o f t h e i n s u l a t o r , then, r e a f f i r m s t h e p r o p o s a l as b e i n g a p p r o p r i a t e .
S i m i l a r l y , t h r o w i n g an orange can n o t i f y o t h e r
p a r t i c i p a n t s o f a new m i s s i l e . Again t h e r e sponse t o t h e i n i t i a t i o n o f t h e a c t o f v a n d a l ism r e a f f i r m s t h e b e h a v i o r as a p p r o p r i a t e
that situation.
in
-
One need n o t propose, t h e n , t h a t j u v e n i l e s who engage i n such b e h a v i o r a r e d e f i c i e n t l y s o c i a l i z e d o r a r e bad k i d s .
In fact,
i f c o n f r o n t e d w i t h examples o f good b e h a v i o r
and bad, I would expect t h e c h i l d r e n would
know t h e d i f f e r e n c e and would choose t o a c t
o u t "good" b e h a v i o r o v e r "bad," a t l e a s t i n
the abstract.
But t h e p o i n t i s t h a t i n t h e
r e a l , c o n c r e t e s i t u a t i o n s c h i l d r e n and a d u l t s
must c o n f r o n t , "good" and "bad" a r e seldom so
clearly distinguishable.
N e i t h e r s h o u l d t h e above examples be
t a k e n t o i n d i c a t e t h a t o n l y j u v e n i l e s engage
i n a c t s o f vandalism.
A d u l t s have been known
t o carve t h e i r i n i t i a l s i n tables, t e a r limbs
o f f t r e e s f o r c a m p f i r e wood, and d r i v e f o u r w h e e l - d r i v e v e h i c l e s i n a manner w h i c h i s destructive t o terrain.
Each a c t , i n i t s cont e x t , can be n o r m a l i z e d , and, l i k e t h e a c t s
o f j u v e n i l e s , u s u a l l y o c c u r s as t h e r e s u l t o f
i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h o t h e r s . Thus, when on p a t r o l
w i t h a Deputy S h e r i f f I observed t h e f o l l o w i n g
incident:
A four-wheel-drive pickup w i t h r o l l bars
and e x t r a l i g h t s was s t u c k i n t h e m i d d l e
o f a l a r g e , muddy bog i n a f i e l d .
When
t h e Deputy asked what happened, t h e owner
s a i d , "We were j u s t d r i v i n g around and he
s a i d , ( p o i n t i n g t o a n o t h e r man) ' L e t ' s go
When
through t h a t f i e l d . '
So I d i d . "
t h e Deputy s a i d , " D o n ' t you know t h i s i s
p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y ? " t h e man l a m e l y s a i d ,
" I d i d n ' t t h i n k i t would h u r t a n y t h i n g . "
Though v a n d a l i s m i s f r e q u e n t l y normal a c t i v i t y
o r an e x t e n s i o n o f normal a c t i v i t y , p l a y , and
though i t i s u s u a l l y ( a c c o r d i n g t o t h e l i m i t e d
r e s e a r c h ) a group r a t h e r t h a n a s o l i t a r y phenomenon, t h e p o s s i b i l i t y remains t h a t i t i s
s o l i t a r y . Thus, p r o p e r t y may be d e s t r o y e d o r
d e f a c e d as a f o r m o f r e t a l i a t i o n o r r e t r i b u t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y when a p e r s o n p e r c e i v e s t h a t
he o r she i s impotent t o b r i n g about a l e g i t i mate s o l u t i o n t o a problem o r c o n f l i c t w i t h
a n o t h e r . The p e r s o n who p l a n s and i s b e n t on
such an a c t i s , o f c o u r s e , d i f f i c u l t t o f o i l
because ( 1 ) he develops a p l a n , and ( 2 ) he
p e r c e i v e s he has a moral o r j u s t reason f o r
h i s indignation.
F i r e d employees o r persons
prevented from e n t e r i n g a p a r k ( f o r whatever
reasons) may p e r c e i v e t h a t t h e y have been
t r e a t e d u n f a i r l y and seek t o r e t a l i a t e f o r the
wrong t h e y have s u f f e r e d . Though t h i s t y p e of
a c t seems t o be qua1 i t a t i v e l y d i f f e r e n t from
t h o s e w h i c h o c c u r as an e x t e n s i o n o f p l a y ,
t h e r e i s no need t o assume t h a t i t c a n n o t be
conceived o f as normal o r t h a t i t o c c u r s i n
t h e absence o f i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h o t h e r s .
First,
many p e o p l e r e t a l i a t e e v e r y day i n l i t t l e ways
a g a i n s t persons (husbands, w i v e s , o r c l o s e
f r i e n d s , e t c . ) who have "done them wrong."
So
t h e mere a c t o f r e t a l i a t i o n i s n o t , i n t r i n s i c a l l y , abnormal.
L i k e w i s e , because t h e a c t u a l
r e t a l i a t o r y a c t may be t h e work o f a s o l i t a r y
i n d i v i d u a l , t h e r e i s no reason t o assume t h a t
a good d e a l o f i n t e r a c t i o n d i d n o t precede i t .
I t i s easy t o c o n c e i v e o f a s i t u a t i o n i n which
o t h e r s c o n v i n c e a person t h a t he has been unj u s t l y t r e a t e d and p r o v i d e him w i t h a c o u r s e
of action.
I t has been a s s e r t e d t h a t p l a y and r e t a l i a t o r y a c t s a r e normal a s p e c t s o f everyday
Ii f e .
I n a d d i t i o n , vandal ism o c c u r s as t h e
r e s u l t o f i n t e r a c t i o n between two o r more i n d i v i d u a l s . When t h e y j o i n t l y engage i n a c t s
o f vandal ism, t h e i n t e r a c t i o n i s f a i r l y obvious.
However, even s o l i t a r y a c t s o f vandalism a r e p r o b a b l y preceded by i n t e r a c t i o n .
In
s h o r t , i t appears t h a t when one focuses on the
a c t u a l a c t o f v a n d a l i s m and t h e i n t e r a c t i o n
which precedes such a c t s r a t h e r t h a n t h e prod u c t s o f vandal ism, a p p a r e n t l y senseless des t r u c t i o n i s n o t d i f f e r e n t f r o m any o t h e r
social action.
T h i s a s s e r t i o n r e t u r n s o u r f o c u s t o adm i n i s t r a t i v e r u l e s and laws w h i c h s e r v e t o
d i s t i n g u i s h v a n d a l i s m f r o m o t h e r c a t e g o r i e s of
social action.
E a r l i e r I asserted t h a t "the
c r e a t i o n o f laws and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r u l e s
serves t o f o c u s b o t h o f f i c i a l and p u b l i c a t t e n t i o n on t h e v a n d a l i s m problem."
They do so
i n two ways.
For example, a few y e a r s ago a
b a c k - c o u n t r y s u r v e y i n Yosemi t e noted t h a t
t h e r e were l i t e r a l l y hundreds o f f i r e r i n g s
around one o f t h e C a t h e d r a l Lakes. T h i s and
s i m i l a r f i n d i n g s l e d t o t h e development o f a
p o l i c y w h i c h r e s t r i c t s t h e use o f c a m p f i r e s i n
t h e back c o u n t r y t o a l i m i t e d number o f campsites.
I n a d d i t i o n , an a t t e m p t was made t o
b r e a k up many f i r e r i n g s and a p o l i c y was implemented which a l l o w e d f i r e s o n l y i n p r e v i ous] y constructed f i r e r i n g s .
T h i s example i l l u s t r a t e s t h a t a problem
was r e c o g n i z e d t h a t r e s u l t e d f r o m l e g i t i m a t e
b u t unwise o r a t l e a s t u n e s t h e t i c a c t i o n s o f
p r e v i o u s backpackers and horsepackers.
Creat i o n o f the r u l e s which r e s t r i c t e d l o c a t i o n s
where c a m p f i r e s c o u l d be bu i l t and spec i f i e d
t h a t t h e y were t o be b u i l t o n l y i n p r e v i o u s l y
c o n s t r u c t e d f i r e r i n g s c o n s t i t u t e s an ex post
f a c t o r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t such a c t s c o n s t i t u t e
vandal ism i n t h e f o r m o f d e f a c i n g t h e n a t u r a l
environment.
These r u l e s t h e n c a l l a t t e n t i o n
t o t h e v a n d a l i s m problem.
But t h e y do more.
To t h e e x t e n t t h a t t h e l o c a t i o n s o f e x i s t i n g
f i r e r i n g s and l e g i t i m a t e l o c a t i o n s f o r campf i r e s i s known t o o f f i c i a l s , c o n s t r u c t i o n o f
campfires i n o t h e r than prescribed l o c a t i o n s
c o n s t i t u t e s a p e r s i s t e n t v a n d a l i s m problem
t h a t c o u l d n o t e x i s t b e f o r e t h e enactment o f
the rules.
A second consequence o f t h e new
r u l e s c e r t a i n l y was n o t i n t e n d e d by p a r k o f f i c i a l s but occurs nevertheless.
Because t h e r e
a r e r e l a t i v e l y few l o c a t i o n s where c a m p f i r e s
a r e a1 lowed, backpackers and horsepackers t e n d
t o congregate i n those locations.
Firewood
soon becomes s c a r c e and campers, e x p e c t i n g t o
have a f i r e b u t f r u s t r a t e d i n t h e i r search f o r
f u e l , f r e q u e n t l y l i f t t h e i r eyes skyward t o
s t i l l s t a n d i n g t r e e s , b o t h l i v i n g and dead, a s
sources o f f u e l .
As a r e s u l t o f t h i s , I have
seen a m a g n i f i c e n t , k n a r l e d o l d snag reduced
t o l i t t l e more t h a n a g r e a t stump.
Thus, t h e r e a r e two ways i n w h i c h t h e
c r e a t i o n o f r u l e s and laws i n t u r n c r e a t e s and
focuses a t t e n t i o n on vandalism.
The f i r s t i s
s i m p l y by l a b e l i n g p r e v i o u s l y l e g i t i m a t e beh a v i o r s as r u l e v i o l a t ions--vandal ism; t h e
second i s by p l a c i n g t h o s e p e o p l e who a t t e m p t
t o a c t i n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h c e r t a i n laws and
r u l e s i n a s i t u a t i o n t h a t i s conducive t o
t h e i r v i o l a t i o n o f o t h e r laws and r u l e s .
I t s h o u l d be c l e a r t h a t a c t s o f v a n d a l i s m
cannot be e a s i l y c o n t r o l l e d by t h o s e who a r e
handed t h i s t a s k . Yet we can t a k e a cue from
the previous discussion t o f i n d a possilbe
so1 u t i o n .
Consequences
The consequence o f t h e p o i n t made t h a t
vandal ism i s normal o r , a t l e a s t , a n o u t g r o w t h
o f normal, l e g i t i m a t e a c t i v i t y i s t h a t we can
expect t h a t , d e s p i t e e f f o r t s t o c o n t r o l o r
e l i m i n a t e vandal ism, i t w i l l p e r s i s t .
The second p o i n t , t h a t vandal ism o c c u r s
i n t h e c o u r s e o f o r as a r e s u l t o f s o c i a l
i n t e r a c t i o n , p r o v i d e s some hope f o r 1 i m i t e d
c o n t r o l o f t h e v a n d a l i s m problem. The s o l u t i o n l i e s i n an a t t e m p t t o g a i n c o n t r o l o r
interaction settings.
Many methods may be u t i l i z e d .
Some, such
as e d u c a t i o n , a r e n o t d i r e c t l y r e l a t e d t o t h e
a c t u a l s i t u a t i o n s i n w h i c h vandal ism i s 1 i k e l y
t o occur.
Other methods, such as d e s i g n , may
be u t i l i z e d t o a f f e c t p h y s i c a l s e t t i n g s i n
such a way as t o m i n i m i z e vandalism.
Proact i v e methods--programed a c t i v i t y - - m a y be emp l o y e d t o channel p a r k and r e c r e a t i o n area
users i n t o nondestructive courses o f a c t i o n o r
even b e h a v i o r s w h i c h b e n e f i t t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l
setting.
F i n a l l y , r e a c t i v e methods i n t h e
form o f a t r a d i t i o n a l law-enforcement program,
may, f r o m t i m e t o t i m e , be t h e o n l y s o l u t i o n
t o a c u t e vandal ism problems.
F i n a l l y , as a consequence o f t h e t h i r d
p o i n t , t h a t t h e c r e a t i o n o f laws and a d m i n i s t r a t i o n r u l e s serves t o f o c u s b o t h o f f i c i a l
and p u b l i c a t t e n t i o n on t h e v a n d a l i s m problem,
i t becomes a p p a r e n t t h a t o f f i c i a l s s h o u l d a t tempt t o f o r m u l a t e t h e expected r e s u l t s o f any
proposed r u l e o r p o l i c y . They m i g h t t h e n av o i d t h e predicament o f t h e d o c t o r who had t o
say, "The o p e r a t i o n was a success b u t t h e pat i e n t died."
I n o t h e r words, t h e p r o p o s a l s
f o r c o n t r o l l i n g i n t e r a c t i o n s e t t i n g s must be
c l o s e l y s c r u t i n i z e d f o r u n i n t e n d e d consequences
and t h e e f f e c t s o f such consequences s h o u l d be
c l o s e l y evaluated.
I t seems t h a t most p e o p l e
want t o obey r u l e s , b u t t h e s e a r e n o t always
t h e r u l e s you o r I want them t o obey; sometimes t h e y a r e t h e r u l e s o f t h e i r peers,
f r i e n d s , o r some o t h e r r e f e r e n c e group.
I t is
up t o t h o s e t o whom o u r p a r k s and r e c r e a t i o n
f a c i l i t i e s a r e e n t r u s t e d t o see t h a t t h e r u l e s
c o n d u c i v e t o p r e s e r v a t i o n and p r o t e c t i o n a r e
r e l e v a n t above a l l o t h e r s when t h e p u b l i c i s
a t play.
A f i n a l n o t e o f pessimism i s i n o r d e r ,
though.
Do n o t f o r g e t t h a t w h i l e camped near
G l a c i e r P o i n t i n Yosemite, John M u i r , t h e man
perhaps most commonly a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e cons e r v a t i o n and p r e s e r v a t i o n o f o u r n a t u r a l h e r i t a g e , once s e t f i r e t o a l a r g e f i r t r e e i n
t h e m i d d l e o f a meadow. H i s audience, t h e n
P r e s i d e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Theodore Roosev e l t , t h e president instrumental i n c r e a t i n g
more N a t i o n a l Park and F o r e s t l a n d t h a n a l l o f
t h e p r e s i d e n t s who preceded him shouted,
' B u l l y , t h e r e ' s a c a n d l e t h a t t o o k f i v e hund r e d years t o make."
Though t imes change, a l most a11 members o f s o c i e t y w i l l on o c c a s i o n
f i n d themselves i n a s e t t i n g i n w h i c h d e s t r u c t i o n , o r a spectacular display, o r leaving
o n e ' s mark, seems t o be t h e most a p p r o p r i a t e
a c t i v i t y a t t h a t t i m e . The problem t h e n i s
n o t m e r e l y , "Can we e l i m i n a t e o r a t l e a s t cont r o l vandal ism?" b u t "Can we do so w i t h o u t
e l i m i n a t i n g t h e essence o f t h e r e c r e a t i o n a l
environment we seek?"
The Message of Vandalism
Arthur W. ~ a ~ i l l l
The common p e r c e p t i o n o f v a n d a l i s m i s o f
a u n i f o r m l y wanton, meaningless, and senseless
crime.
When m o t i v e s f o r such b e h a v i o r a r e n o t
r e a d i l y a p p a r e n t , we a r e q u i c k t o c a l l i t mot i v e l e s s and l a b e l i t as d e v i a n t . Those who
a r e wronged o r harmed by vandalous b e h a v i o r
a r e l i k e l y t o c o n s i d e r t h e d e v i a n t as s i c k o r
d e f e c t i v e o r t h e p r o d u c t o f h i s environment
( ~ r m s t r o n gand W i l s o n 1973).
But, a r e persons
who commit v a n d a l i s m r e a l l y a f f l i c t e d w i t h a
p a t h o l o g y , a r e t h e y d e f e c t i v e people, and how
much does t h e i r p h y s i c a l environment d e t e r m i n e
t h e i r behavior?
I n t h e m u s i c a l p l a y "Camelot," k n i g h t s
c r y " F i e on goodness!
F i e ! " and l o n g f o r war,
some k i l l i n g , and p i l l a g e t o b r i g h t e n t h e i r
lives.
I s n ' t their rebellion closely akin t o
t h a t of t h e bored y o u t h s o f a low-income housi n g p r o j e c t ? Can we see i n t h e k n i g h t s , t h o s e
'good c i t i z e n s " o f another time, t h e counterp a r t s o f t o d a y ' s v a n d a l s ? And can we r e a l l y
say t h a t t h e a c t s o f e i t h e r group a r e w i t h o u t
cause--motiveless?
S o c i a l p s y c h o l o g i s t S t a n l e y Cohen (1973)
has s a i d t h a t d e v i a n c e i s a s o c i a l phenomenon.
I t commences when vandalous a c t s become v i s i b l e and c r e a t e pub1 i c awareness.
Various i n d i v i d u a l s and groups t h e n draw a d d i t i o n a l a t t e n t i o n t o a c t s t h e y r e g a r d as t h r e a t e n i n g t o
t h e i r own system o f moral v a l u e s .
When pub1 i c
c o n c e r n and s u p p o r t i s s t i m u l a t e d t h r o u g h t h e
a p p e a l s t o common1y h e l d be1 i e f s o f c a u s a t i o n ,
such as i m m o r a l i t y o r emotional d i s t u r b a n c e ,
t h o s e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r vandalous a c t s can be
l a b e l e d as d e v i a n t s .
At t h i s point, a social
problem i s r e c o g n i z e d and c o n t r o l e f f o r t s begin.
The l i k e l i h o o d e x i s t s , however, t h a t t h e
' d e v i a n t s 1 ' may have been condemned on t h e
b a s i s o f unfounded b e l i e f s ; t h e r e may be no
a t t e m p t t o h e l p them by i d e n t i f y i n g t h e meaning behind t h e i r a c t s .
But j u s t what i s behind v a n d a l i s m ? Physi c a l and mental d e f e c t s ; broken homes; p u b l i c
i n d i f f e r e n c e ; and f a i l u r e o f p a r e n t s , s c h o o l s ,
and o u r s o c i a l system t o t e a c h r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
and moral i t y have been s p e c i f i e d by t h e FederP r i n c i p a l Resource A n a l y s t , P a c i f i c Southwest F o r e s t and Range Experiment S t a t i o n ,
Berkeley, C a l i f o r n i a .
a1 Bureau o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n as c o n t r i b u t i n g t o
vandal ism (Bennett 1969).
Seeing human needs
as t h e b a s i s o f t h e problem, Cohen (1973) suggested t h e need t o g e t money, t o advance a
p e r s o n a l o b j e c t i v e , t o express s o c i a l p r o t e s t ,
t o g a i n revenge f o r some imagined o r r e a l
wrong, t o g a i n r e l e a s e f o r h a t r e d , and, i n
c h i l d r e n , t o express c u r i o s i t y and c o m p e t i t i o n
t h r o u g h spontaneous p l a y .
Our w i l l i n g n e s s t o w r i t e o f f v a n d a l i s m as
senseless and wanton and t o apprehend and puni s h v a n d a l s should be r e p l a c e d by t h e d e s i r e
t o i d e n t i f y m o t i v e s and m o d i f y s t i m u l i. Unf o r t u n a t e l y , i f we l e a r n t h a t vandal ism on
w i l d l a n d s i s r e l a t e d t o problems o f c i t i e s - p o l l u t i o n , unemployment, poor housing, and
o t h e r i n e q u i t i e s - - w e may respond by " e x t e r n a l i z i n g " vandal ism--we may see i t as o u t s i d e o u r
a r e a o f i n f 1uence.
Greenberg (1974) found,
f o r example, t h a t school a d m i n i s t r a t o r s chose
t o e x t e r n a l i z e v a n d a l i s m because t h e y b e l i e v e d
i t s source was o u t s i d e o f t h e school system
and n o t t h e i r problem.
Resource managers
c o u l d e a s i l y t a k e such a course, b u t t h e y
would t h e n face t h e need f o r f r e q u e n t p o l i c e
a c t i o n , f r e q u e n t replacement o f f a c i l i t i e s ,
and c o n s t a n t concern i n f a c i l i t i e s d e s i g n t o
i n h i b i t a c t s o f vandalism.
Greenberg a l s o
found, however, t h a t school e f f o r t s t o maximize s e c u r i t y and harden f a c i l i t i e s were
doomed t o f a i l u r e . The e v i d e n c e c l e a r l y
p o i n t s t o t h e need t o i d e n t i f y m o t i v e s and
remedy problems a t t h e i r source.
ENCOURAGEMENT TO VANDALISM
D e s p i t e some e v i d e n c e t o t h e c o n t r a r y
( d a r k 1971), s t u d i e s have found t h e m a j o r i t y
o f vandal ism t o be caused by y o u t h , g e n e r a l 1y
between 13 and 21 y e a r s o f age enne nett 1969,
Armstrong and W i l s o n 1973).
This kind o f inf o r m a t i o n tends t o make a d u l t s r e g a r d any
I n adg a t h e r i n g o f teenagers w i t h s u s p i c i o n .
d i t i o n , some a d u l t s r e g a r d young p e o p l e a s a
k i n d o f "nonpeopl e n ' o r "not-yet-people,"
who
a r e bothersome and have no f e e l i n g s .
Under
t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s , t h e a d u l t s m i g h t be seen as
t h e t r u e vandals, o r more p r e c i s e l y , c o n t r i b u t o r s t o vandalism.
Goldmeir (1974) found t h a t p a r e n t s t e n d
t o i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e squabbles o f t h e i r
c h i l d r e n o r t o o b j e c t t o a c t i v i t i e s , innocent
i n themselves, w h i c h t h e p a r e n t s f i n d annoying.
Consequently, s i m p l e c o n f l i c t s o f i n t e r e s t may grow o u t o f p r o p o r t i o n and l e a d t o
vandalous a c t s by t h e c h i l d r e n aimed a t " g e t t i n g back" a t t h o s e who o r i g i n a l l y i n t e r f e r e d
o r complained o f t h e i r b e h a v i o r . C a l l i n g i n
t h e p o l i c e o n l y t e n d s t o i n t e n s i f y t h e problem; a n o n t h r e a t e n i n g t h i r d - p a r t y m e d i a t o r i s
r e a l l y needed.
A p o s s i b l y more s e r i o u s p a r e n t - c h i l d
p r o b l e m d e v e l o p s when t h e c h i l d a c t s o u t t h e
p a r e n t s ' d e v i a n t f a n t a s i e s (ward 1973).
For
example, i f p a r e n t s a r e unemployed and h o u s i n g
i s p o o r , t h e r e may be c o n t i n u a l f i g h t s between
f a m i l y members, and c o m p l a i n t s and even
t h r e a t s may be d i r e c t e d toward t h e s o c i a l system.
C h i l d r e n l i s t e n , observe, and t h e n vand a l i z e f a c i l i t i e s t h a t a r e symbolic of the
sources o f t h e i r p a r e n t s ' problems. Again,
a r r e s t i n g and p u n i s h i n g t h e c h i l d r e n does n o t
r e a c h t h e cause o f t h e problem. The a d u l t beh a v i o r and i t s causes a r e t h e problems t h a t
need s o l v i ng
.
was, he r e p l a n t e d each t i m e u n t i l t h e p l a n t s
were f i n a l l y e s t a b l i s h e d .
Design t o s e r v e t h e s o c i a l and c u l t u r a l
needs o f p e o p l e i s f a r more i m p o r t a n t t h a n des i g n t o g a i n t h e p l a u d i t s o f o n e ' s peers.
The
f i r s t s h o u l d produce a more l i v a b l e e n v i r o n ment w h i c h i s l e s s l i k e l y t o breed vandalism;
t h e second may o n l y s e r v e t h e d e s i g n e r ' s ego
and p e r p e t u a t e pub1 i c il I s , i n c l u d i n g v a n d a l ism.
I n another study, B r i t i s h i n v e s t i g a t o r s
(ward 1973) found t h a t r e s i d e n t s l i k e d h i s t o r i c o l d b u i l d i n g s which c o n t r i b u t e d an appeali n g c h a r a c t e r t o v a r i o u s d i s t r i c t s . Time can
be an enemy o f such s t r u c t u r e s i f a d m i n i s t r a t o r s a l l o w them t o s t a n d u n r e p a i r e d o r u n r e p l a c e d , because t h e y soon become t a r g e t s f o r
vandal ism. Vandalous a c t s may be assured,
however, i f h i s t o r i c s t r u c t u r e s a r e r e p l a c e d
w i t h o u t r e p l i c a t i n g c u l t u r a l l y accepted
styles.
N e g l e c t and i n d e c i s i o n by a d m i n i s t r a t o r s may be termed b u r e a u c r a t i c vandal ism; i t
may s t i m u l a t e a c t s o f t r a d i t i o n a l v a n d a l i s m by
r e s i d e n t s ( ~ r u i c k s h a n k1973).
OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONTROL
L e t ' s b r i e f l y c o n s i d e r why p o l i c e a c t i o n
i s not generally acceptable.
I n Scotland
(where p o l i c e may n o t d i f f e r a p p r e c i a b l y f r o m
o u r own), r e s e a r c h e r s (Armstrong and W i l son
1973) found t h a t vandal ism and d e l inquency
were developed by p o l i c e a c t i o n . The p o l i c e
tended t o h a r a s s teenagers when t h e y were n o t
causing t r o u b l e u n t i l t h e youngsters decided
t o g i v e them reasons f o r " b u s t i n g " them. A
l i b r a r y s e a r c h o f newspapers would u n d o u b t e d l y
r e v e a l numerous examples o f s i m i l a r p o l i c e youth c o n f l i c t s .
P l a n n e r s , d e v e l o p e r s , a r c h i t e c t s , and
o t h e r p u b l i c o f f i c i a l s may a l s o be c o n s i d e r e d
''vandals" as a consequence o f poor d e s i g n ,
f a i l u r e t o r e c o g n i z e s o c i a l o r c u l t u r a l needs,
o r i n d e c i s i o n i n u r b a n development o r r e d e v e l opment p l a n n i n g (ward 1973).
Robert Sommer
(1972) i n d i c a t e d t h a t good d e s i g n s h o u l d go
beyond mere p h y s i c a l s t r u c t u r e and should cons i d e r s o c i a l consequences.
P o o r l y designed
b u i l d i n g s and p r o j e c t s have n e a r l y t h r e e t i m e s
t h e c r i m e r a t e o f a d j a c e n t we1 I - d e s i g n e d p r o j e c t s , even when d e n s i t i e s and s o c i a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f r e s i d e n t s a r e i d e n t i c a l (~ewman
I t may f o l l o w t h a t i f good b u i l d i n g
19725.
d e s i g n r e s u l t s i n l o w e r c r i m e , t h e n good f a c i l i t y l a y o u t d e s i g n s h o u l d reduce v a n d a l i s m
i n p a r k s and o t h e r r e c r e a t i o n a r e a s .
Just
''hardening" f a c i l i t i e s , though i t does n o t
s t o p vandalism, may s l o w i t , however.
Simil a r l y , prompt r e p a i r o r replacement when damage does o c c u r , can reduce r e p e t i t i o n (ward
1973).
For example, Anselmo Lewis, r e t i r e d
ranger o n t h e M t . B a l d y D i s t r i c t o f t h e Angel e s National Forest, discovered t h a t people
were d i g g i n g up t r e e s and shrubs p l a n t e d t o
b e a u t i f y r e c r e a t i o n areas.
F r u s t r a t i n g as i t
V a r i o u s means f o r c o n t r o l l i n g v a n d a l i s m
have been suggested, and some o f t h e proposed
s o l u t i o n s have a c t u a l l y worked, though u s u a l l y
f o r s p e c i f i c problems. T h e r e does n o t appear
t o be any u n i v e r s a l remedy, b u t some approaches seem p r o m i s i n g .
Increasing the v i s i b i l i t y
o f v a n d a l s , d e v e l o p i n g means f o r two-way comm u n i c a t i o n , and g e t t i n g p e o p l e i n v o l v e d i n
community programs a r e among t h e many t e c h n i q u e s t h a t may l e a d toward more u n i v e r s a l l y
successful c o n t r o l s , possibly w i t h decreasing
need f o r punishment.
Increasing V i s i b i l i t y
Oscar Newman (1972) c l a i m e d t h e b a t t l e ag a i n s t c r i m e can o n l y be won when p e o p l e s t o p
t r y i n g t o p r o t e c t themselves i n d i v i d u a l l y and
u n i t e as a community.
He approached t h e p r o b lem t h r o u g h d e s i g n ; d e s i g n t h a t makes t h e
c r i m i n a l o r any i n t r u d e r c o g n i z a n t o f h i s v i s i b i l i t y and t h e r e s i d e n t c a p a b l e o f r e c o g n i z i n g and r e p e l l i n g i n t r u d e r s .
I t i s design
t h a t b i n d s i n d i v i d u a l s i n t o a d e f e n s i b l e comm u n i t y ; he c a l l s i t " d e f e n s i b l e space."
The
kev t o h i s d e s i g n i s improved s u r v e i l l a n c e .
B u i l d i n g s c o n s t r u c t e d i n new h o u s i n g p r o j e c t s
a r e a r r a n g e d t o be i n t e r v i s i b l e .
Apartment
windows and e n t r y ways a r e l o c a t e d t o make
grounds, e n t r i e s and h a l l s easy t o o b s e r v e .
Landscaping i s p l e a s i n g b u t does n o t p r o v i d e
good h i d i n g p l a c e s . Bu i I d i n g s and e x t e r n a l
s t r u c t u r e s , such as fences, a r e a r r a n g e d t o
s e p a r a t e pub1 i c f r o m semipubl i c spaces. The
e n t i r e d e s i g n works t o b u i l d a sense o f cornmunity.
I t n o t o n l y makes t h e a r e a e a s i l y obs e r v a b l e b u t encourages n e i g h b o r f a m i l i a r i t y ,
t h e r e b y a s s u r i n g t h a t unknown i n d i v i d u a l s o r
undesirable a c t i v i t i e s a r e q u i c k l y recognized
and c o n t r o l l e d .
Newman's approach suggests t h a t r e c r e a t i o n a l a r e a s may be designed t o e s t a b l i s h a
' t e m p o r a r y sense o f communi t y " among u s e r s ,
a l l o w i n g them t o respond t o d e p r e c i a t i v e behavior e f f e c t i v e l y y e t without jeopardizing
anyone's p e r s o n a l s a f e t y . The success o f such
a d e s i g n r e q u i r e s i n t e r a c t i o n among r e c r e a t ionists.
Several y e a r s ago such i n t e r a c t i o n
may n o t have occured, b u t today e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e s a new breed o f w i l d l a n d u s e r ; one who i s
s o c i a l l y o r i e n t e d and t h e r e f o r e e s t a b l i s h e s
new f r i e n d s h i p s d u r i n g h i s v a c a t i o n ( d a r k and
o t h e r s 1971).
I f developed r e c r e a t i o n areas
a r e p a t r o n i z e d by such v i s i t o r s , t h e n d e s i g n i n g d e f e n s i b l e spaces f o r t h e i r u s e may p r o v i d e t h e proper mix o f ingredients t o increase
s u r v e i l l a n c e and reduce vandal ism.
Good d e s i g n , d e s i g n t h a t i s n o t o n l y def e n s i b l e b u t w h i c h e f f e c t i v e l y serves r e a l human needs, s h o u l d i n v i t e g r e a t e r use o f areas
now g o i n g unused.
Increased use, i n i t s e l f ,
may p r o v i d e a d e t e r r e n t t o vandalism.
For example, New Y o r k ' s C e n t r a l Park has been known
f o r i t s high occurrence o f serious crime.
In
r e c e n t y e a r s pub1 i c use was i n c r e a s e d because
c i t y a u t h o r i t i e s o f f e r e d new and i n t e r e s t i n g
programs and a c t i v i t i e s .
The r e s u l t a n t l a r g e
crowds p r o v i d e d a g r e a t e r amount o f d e f e n s i b l e
s p a c e ~ d e f e n s i b l e because t h e g r e a t e r numbers
o f u s e r s made more p a r k a r e a v i s i b l e .
Crimin a l elements soon r e c o g n i z e d t h e p a r k was no
l o n g e r an "unclaimed" space, b u t a p u b l i c
p r o p e r t y o n w h i c h t h e y were now i n j e o p a r d y .
Crime i n C e n t r a l Park has decreased2 and i n c r e a s i n g use i s r e c o g n i z e d as a s u c c e s s f u l t e c h n i q u e f o r making p a r k s and o t h e r areas s a f e
f o r pub1 i c use (Gold 1972, Ward 1973).
L i s t e n i n g and T r a n s m i t t i n g
F a i l u r e t o communicate may be a b a s i c
p r o b l e m f o r b o t h t h e v i c t i m and t h e v a n d a l .
S t a n l e y Cohen (1973) s a i d , "Vandalism i s a
u g l y and i n c o h e r e n t
d i f f i c u l t to
solution
e x p l a i n . . .and i t w i l l c o n t i n u e t o be used unt i l s o c i e t y g e t s t h e message."
The d e v i a n t i s
t r a n s m i t t i n g b u t we a r e n o t 1 i s t e n i n g , and we
a r e a l s o t r a n s m i t t i n g , b u t because we do n o t
l i s t e n , we do n o t know what messages t o send.
...
...
What a r e some o f t h e messages expressed
by d e v i a n t b e h a v i o r ? A l d o Leopold (1966) def i n e d an e t h i c i n two ways.
I n ecological
terms, he s a i d , an e t h i c i s "a l i m i t a t i o n on
freedom o f a c t i o n I n t h e s t r u g g l e f o r e x i s t ence," and i n p h i l o s o l h i c a l terms i t i s "a
d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n o f social from a n t i s o c i a l
conduct."
P o s s i b l y , t h e v a n d a l ' s "unrecogn i z e d cause" o r " a n t i - s o c i a l a c t " i s m e r e l y
h i s expression o f disrespect f o r l i m i t a t i o n s
P e r s o n a l communication w i t h C h a r l e s
Lewis, H o r t i c u l t u r i s t , Morton Arboretum,
Lisle, Illinois.
on h i s freedom o f a c t i o n imposed by people
w i t h a d i f f e r e n t e t h i c . H i s a c t i o n may have
n o t h i n g t o do w i t h d i s r e s p e c t ' f o r t h e e n v i r o n ment, as some b e l i e v e i t does, b u t i t may be a
way o f " g e t t i n g a t " t h o s e who v i o l a t e t h e dev i a n t ' s p e r c e i v e d r i g h t s o r e t h i c s . Thus,
when t a b l e s , w a t e r systems, b a r r i e r s , and t o i l e t s a r e d e s t r o y e d i n a campground, r e s o u r c e
managers m i g h t r e g a r d t h i s as a message announcing t h a t somebody f e e l s h i s r i g h t s have
I t may be a d v i s a b l e f o r manbeen v i o l a t e d .
agers t o l e a r n t o l i s t e n , t o i d e n t i f y causes,
t o examine r u l e s and r e s t r i c t i o n s , and t o
change some r u l e s , o r t o e x p l a i n why o t h e r
r u l e s a r e needed.
I f t h e f i r s t two o f t h e s e
g o a l s can be achieved, managers may f i n a l l y
' ' g e t t h e message."
However, i f changing t h e
r u l e s and e d u c a t i n g t h e u s e r s a r e n e c e s s a r y ,
t h e n managers must a l s o l e a r n how t o send
t h e i r messages e f f e c t i v e l y .
E f f e c t i v e communication w i t h t h e p u b l i c
Reposes a problem f o r r e s o u r c e agencies.
c e n t l y , Ross and M o e l l e r (1974) found t h a t
campers on t h e A l l e g h e n y N a t i o n a l F o r e s t were
n o t w e l l informed about camping r u l e s . The
l e a s t informed groups were a d o l e s c e n t s , f i r s t t i m e campers, n o n l o c a l u s e r s , and t e n t campe r s . Messages needed g e n e r a l improvement and
I n Colorado, a
r e q u i r e d a p o s i t i v e tone.
study o f the effectiveness o f a wilderness
p e r m i t i n f o r m a t i o n program showed t h a t newspapers and t e l e v i s i o n reached a l a r g e number
o f people, b u t t h a t few o f t h e s e p e o p l e were
w i l d e r n e s s u s e r s ( ~ a z i oand G i l b e r t 1974).
One s t u d y conducted by a S t a t e agency and two
s t u d i e s by Federal agencies found t h a t d e s p i t e
agency programs t o i n f o r m campers a b o u t where
t o camp o r about c a m p s i t e r e s e r v a t i o n systems,
most had o b t a i n e d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e i r
friends ( ~ a ~ l o
and
r Knudson 1972, USDI N a t i o n a l Park S e r v i c e 1974, Magi1 1 1976). To r e a c h
t h e p u b l i c , t h e messages r e s o u r c e managers
send must be more a t t e n t i o n - g e t t i n g , must be
c l e a r l y w r i t t e n and p r e c i s e l y d i r e c t e d toward
w e l l - i d e n t i f i e d audiences, must a v o i d i r r e l e v a n t a t t e m p t s a t r e g u l a t i o n , and must recogn i z e r e a l human needs.
G e t t i n g People I n v o l v e d
Vandalism m i g h t be regarded b o t h as a
symptom o f i l l n e s s i n a segment o f o u r s o c i e t y , and an e f f o r t by t h e a f f l i c t e d segment t o
c u r e i t s e l f through t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f h o s t i l i t y , f r u s t r a t i o n , and h e l p l e s s n e s s .
Psychiat r i s t Matthew Dumont (1968) proposed t h i s
symptomatic approach f o r examining t h e i l l s o f
cities.
Dumont a l s o enumerates p e o p l e ' s b a s i c
need f o r a s t i m u l a t i n g environment, a f e e l i n g
o f p e r s o n a l p r i d e o f s e l f - e s t e e m , a sense o f
community, and a sense o f c o n t r o l o v e r t h e i r
environment. When b a s i c needs a r e n o t supp l i e d i n t h e g h e t t o s , e f f o r t s t o s u p p l y them
assume t h e symptomatic f o r m o f r i o t s .
Vandalism may m e r e l y be a l e s s v i o l e n t symptom
o f t h e same p a t h o l o g y expressed w i t h l e s s r i s k
o f apprehension o r i n j u r y .
Schools may a l s o
c o n t r i b u t e t o the i l l n e s s , e s p e c i a l l y i f they
a r e meaningless t o s t u d e n t s who see themselves
t r a p p e d by t r a i n i n g t h a t l e a d s t o f u t u r e l e s s
j o b s and no chance t o escape p o v e r t y ohe en
1973).
and p o s s i b l y need t o be changed o r d e l e t e d .
I t i s q u i t e u n l i k e l y , however, t h a t pub1 i c
h e a r i n g s w i l l s t i m u l a t e responses f r o m persons
who themselves show d e p r e c i a t i v e b e h a v i o r , esp e c i a l l y t h o s e whose f r u s t r a t i o n s a r e t h e
p r o d u c t o f some i n s t i t u t i o n o t h e r t h a n a r e s o u r c e agency. The o b s e r v a t i o n a l t e c h n i q u e s
Robert Sommer (1972) suggested f o r i d e n t i f y i n g
relevant information f o r designing buildings
may p r o v e u s e f u l f o r d e s i g n i n g r e c r e a t i o n a l
f a c i l i t i e s and r e g u l a t i o n s . The t e c h n i q u e r e q u i r e s t h e involvement o f managers r a t h e r t h a n
recreationists.
The u s e r ' s o p i n i o n i s expressed o n l y by h i s b e h a v i o r , w h i c h i s observed and recorded. Thus, u s e o r misuse and
compl i a n c e o r d e f inance a r e t h e c r i t e r i a f o r
s i t e , f a c i l i t y , and r e g u l a t i o n d e s i g n . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e o b s e r v a t i o n a l approach d o e s n ' t
g e t t o t h e h e a r t o f d e p r e c i a t i v e b e h a v i o r . As
p r e v i o u s l y mentioned, t h e source o f v a n d a l i s m
i s 1 i k e l y t o be o u t s i d e o f t h e f o r e s t , b u t i g noring o r externalizing i t w i l l not solve the
problem.
I t may be necessary f o r r e s o u r c e
managers t o work t h r o u g h S t a t e and F e d e r a l
legislatures t o provide c i t y o f f i c i a l s w i t h
t h e k i n d o f support e s s e n t i a l f o r c o r r e c t i n g
the social i l l s o f our society.
H o r t i c u l t u r i s t C h a r l e s Lewis (1973) des c r i b e d a program t h a t seemed t o s u c c e s s f u l l y
r e k i n d l e s t i m u l a t i o n , self-esteem, sense o f
community, and e n v i r o n m e n t a l mastery i n r e s i d e n t s o f a v e r y l a r g e h o u s i n g p r o j e c t , where
c r i m e , i n c l u d i n g vandalism, was h i g h . The New
York Housing A u t h o r i t y sponsored a q a r d e n i n q
c o n t e s t designed t o encourage t e n a n t p a r t i c i p a t i o n w i t h m i n i m a l guidance.
Remarkably,
most r e s i d e n t s o f t h e p r o j e c t g o t i n v o l v e d and
t h e r e s u l t s were h e a r t e n i n g !
Not o n l y were
b e a u t i f u l gardens produced, b u t s t r e e t s were
c l e a n e d and b u i l d i n g s were p a i n t e d . The ent i r e neighborhood assumed a new l o o k , and most
i m p o r t a n t , vandal ism decreased! The gardens
s u r v i v e d because t h e r e s i d e n t s c o u l d i d e n t i f y
t h e v a n d a l s and gave them t h e j o b o f g u a r d i n g
the plants!
The same t e c h n i q u e proved e f f e c t i v e f o r
s t o p p i n g 1 i t t e r i n g and o t h e r u n d e s i r a b l e a c t s
by a group o f y o u t h s a t a r e c r e a t i o n a r e a i n a
high-income Cal i f o r n i a community (personal
communication w i t h Michael allo or an): A few
o f t h e suspected teenagers were h i r e d t o c l e a n
t h e grounds, and t h e problem soon disappeared.
A u n i v e r s a l s o l u t i o n f o r stopping vandalism has o b v i o u s l y n o t been r e v e a l e d i n t h i s
d i s c u s s i o n , nor does a s o l u t i o n appear t o be
on t h e h o r i z o n .
Considerable research i s
needed t o d e v e l o p and t e s t t h e few approaches
d i s c u s s e d . P o s s i b l y t h e g r e a t e s t advantage o f
m e e t i n g t o e v a l u a t e s e r i o u s problems may be
t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o expose myths and s t i m u l a t e
new ideas. The k n i g h t s o f Camelot who c r i e d
' F i e on goodness," appeared t o be a w i l d l o t ,
n o t u n l i k e t h e " h o o l i g a n s " who ravage o u r c i t i e s and r e c r e a t i o n a r e a s . Y e t , d e s p i t e our
wars and a p p a r e n t l y i n c r e a s i n g c r i m e r a t e s ,
perhaps we s h o u l d t a k e h e a r t f r o m t h e words o f
Robert A r d r e y (1361)--"The m i r a c l e o f man i s
n o t how f a r he has sunk b u t how m a g n i f i c e n t l y
I f we c o n s i d e r t h e premise
he has r i s e n . "
t h a t man descended f r o m a k i l l e r ape, t h e n
p o s s i b l y o u r many e f f o r t s t o a c h i e v e peace may
s i g n i f y t h e hope f o r a c h i e v i n g v i c t o r y o v e r
c r ime.
The b a s i c human needs o f p e o p l e i n c i t i e s
may a l s o i n f l u e n c e t h e management o f r e c r e a t i o n areas.
Speaking about p l a n n i n g f o r mun i c i p a l , s t a t e , and n a t i o n a l r e c r e a t i o n areas,
Lieberman (1970) c l a i m e d such areas may a c t as
t h e r a p e u t i c environments where c i t y d w e l l e r s
can r e c e i v e f r e s h s t i m u l a t i o n and r e g a i n some
sense o f c o n t r o l o v e r t h e i r environment.
But,
t h e r e s o u r c e manager needs t o be aware t h a t
some u r b a n i t e s may b r i n g w i t h them t h e f r u s t r a t i o n s spawned i n a r e p r e s s i v e environment.
Their d e s i r e t o achieve stimulation, s e l f esteem, and e n v i r o n m e n t a l mastery may n o t t o l e r a t e t h e unexpected and seemingly i r r e l e v a n t
r e g u l a t i o n s so i m p o r t a n t t o t h e managers. The
unanswered q u e s t i o n i s , how can r e s o u r c e managers g e t r e c r e a t i o n i s t s i n v o l v e d , t h e r e b y
preventing depreciative behavior?
References
A r d r e y , Robert
1961. A f r i c a n genes i s .
Co., New York.
Another way t o a c h i e v e involvement i s
suggested by r e s o u r c e agency use o f p u b l i c
h e a r i n g s t o f e e l t h e p u l s e o f concerned c i t i zens o n s e n s i t i v e issues. The same t e c h n i q u e
may h e l p t o i d e n t i f y s i t e and f a c i l i t y d e s i g n s
t h a t most n e a r l y s a t i s f y t h e u s e r s ' needs, o r
t o i n d i c a t e which r e g u l a t i o n s a r e i r r e l e v a n t
384 p.
D e l l Pub1
.
Armstrong, Gale, and Mary W i l s o n
1973. Delinquency and some a s p e c t s o f housing.
p. 64-84.
In Vandalism. C o l i n
Ward, e d i t o r . Van Nostrand R e i n h o l d Co.,
New York.
Bennett, Joseph W.
1969. Vandals w I d . 238 p.
Co., P o r t l a n d Oreg.
3 ~ e r s o n a lcommunication w i t h Michael
Halloran, D i r e c t o r o f Pupil Services,
San Ramon V a l l e y U n i f i e d School D i s t r i c t ,
Danville, California.
Bennett P u b l .
C l a r k , Roger N.
1971. U n d e s i r a b l ,e b e h a v i o r i n f o r e s t
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campgrounds.
p. 150-155.
In R e c r e a t i o n
Symp. Proc.
USDA F o r e s t Serv., Northe a s t e r n F o r e s t Exp. Stn., Upper Darby, Pa.
C l a r k , R. N., J. C. Hendee, and F. L. Campbell
1971. Values, behavior, and c o n f l i c t i n
J. L e i s . R e s .
modern camping c u l t u r e .
3 ( 3 ) : 143-159.
Cohen, S t a n l e y
1973. P r o p e r t y d e s t r u c t i o n :
m o t i v e s and
In Vandalism..
meanings.
p. 23-53.
Col i n Ward, e d i t o r .
Van Nostrand
R e i n h o l d Co., New York.
Cruickshank, Dan
1973.
Developers as vandals.
p. 184-214.
In Vandal ism. Col i n Ward, e d i t o r . Van
Nostrand Reinhold, Co., New York.
Oumont, Matthew P.
1968. The absurd h e a l e r :
perspectives o f a
community p s y c h i a t r i s t .
186 p. Science
House, New York.
Fazio, J. R., and D. L. G i l b e r t
1974.
Mandatory w i l d e r n e s s p e r m i t s : some
J. F o r . 72(12):
i n d i c a t o r s o f success.
753-756.
Gold, Seymour
1972.
Nonuse o f neighborhood p a r k s . J.
A m e r . I n s t . Plann. (Nov,) p. 369-378.
Goldmeir, H a r o l d
1974.
Vandalism:
t h e e f f e c t s o f unmanageab l e c o n f r o n t a t ions. A d o l e s c e n c e 9(33) :
49-56.
Greenberg, Bernard
1974. School vandalism:
paradoxical solutions.
R e v . 1 ( 2 ) : l 1-18.
i t s e f f e c t s and
Lewis, Charles A.
1973. People-plant i n t e r a c t i o n : a new h o r t i c u l t u r a l p e r s p e c t i v e . A m e r . Hort.
52 (2) :19-24.
Lieberman, Maury
1970.
Parks and urban mental h e a l t h .
T r e n d s 7 (3) :30-32.
M a g i l l , A r t h u r W.
1976. Campsite r e s e r v a t i o n s y s t e m s ~ t h e
camper's v i e w p o i n t .
USDA F o r e s t Serv.
Res. Pap. PSW-121, 15 p.
P a c i f i c Southwest F o r e s t and Range Exp. Stn.,
Berkeley, C a l i f .
Newman, Oscar
1972. D e f e n s i b l e space: c r i m e p r e v e n t i o n
through urban design.
264 p. The
M c M i l l a n Co., New York.
Ross, Terence L., and George H. Moel l e r
1974. Communicating r u l e s i n r e c r e a t i o n
areas. USDA F o r e s t Serv. Res. Pap. NE297, 12 p.
N o r t h e a s t e r n F o r e s t Exp.
Stn., Upper Darby, Pa.
Sommer, Robert
1972. Design awareness.
142 p.
Press, C o r t e Madera, C a l i f .
Rinehart
T a y l o r , Charles E., and Douglas M. Knudson
1972. The camper i n I n d i a n a s t a t e - o p e r a t e d
campgrounds.
Purdue Univ., A g r i c . Exp.
Stn. Res. B u l l . 888, 1 1 p.
U.S. Department o f t h e I n t e r i o r , N a t i o n a l Park
Service
1974. The campsite r e s e r v a t i o n system--a
p i l o t program i n s i x N a t i o n a l Parks.
USDI N a t l . Park Serv., 104 p.
Crime Prevention
Leopold, A l d o
1966. A sand c o u n t y almanac. 295 p.
S i e r r a C l u b / B a l l a n t i n e Books, New York.
Ward, C o l i n , e d i t o r
1973. Vandalism.
327 p.
Van Nostrand
Reinhold Co., New York.
A Psychoanalytic View of Vandalism
Robert J. sokoll
The s u b j e c t o f v a n d a l i s m i s so broad and
i n c l u d e s so many d i f f e r e n t types and degrees,
m o t i v a t i o n s and methods, t h a t almost e v e r y asp e c t o f human and s o c i a l b e h a v i o r i s encomPhys ician/Psychoanal y s t , B e v e r l y Hi 1 l s , Ca.
passed. There i s no q u e s t i o n o f t h e tremend o u s l y i n c r e a s i n g c o s t - - f i n a n c i a l as w e l l as
sociological.
H i s t o r i a n s w i l l trace i t s antecedents i n h i s t o r y .
S o c i a l i s t s and psycholog i s t s w i l l focus o n t h e s o c i e t a l r o o t s and t h e
s o c i o l o g i c changes t h a t produce and f o s t e r t h e
d e s t r u c t i o n and o u t p o u r i n g o f a g g r e s s i o n .
T h e i r c o n t r i b u t i o n s may w e l l l e a d t o an unders t a n d i n g o f t h e broad p s y c h o s o c i a l f o r c e s and
t h e s o c i e t a l changes t h a t w i l l be necessary
for prevent ion.
I am a d i f f e r e n t b i r d - - n o t i n anyway b e t t e r , but d i f f e r e n t .
I am a p s y c h i a t r i s t and
psychoanalyst.
My c o n c e r n i s w i t h what goes
o n between t h e e a r s o f any one i n d i v i d u a l - what goes o n between t h e s e e a r s n o t o n l y a t a
l e v e l o f awareness, t h a t i s , consciousness,
b u t a t a deeper l e v e l as w e l l , o u t s i d e t h e
l e v e l o f awareness, t h a t i s , t h e unconscious.
What makes an i n d i v i d u a l d e s t r o y and d e f a c e i n
a wanton f a s h i o n ? We a r e a l l aware o f t h e
c u l t u r a l change, t h e c h a n g i n g s o c i a l mores,
t h e problems o f t h e disadvantaged, t h e g h e t t o s , TV v i o l e n c e , d r u g s , e t c .
But why does
one f r u s t r a t e d school k i d p o u t and a n o t h e r des t r o y ? Why--and how t o s t o p i t ? A complex
p r o b l e m indeed.
Since, as I mentioned, I wear s e v e r a l
hats--as p h y s i c i a n , p s y c h i a t r i s t , and a psychoanal y s t - - I ' d 1 i ke t o approach t h e problem
o f v a n d a l i s m as I would any medical problem.
I d o n ' t i n t e n d t o convey t h a t t h i s i s any b e t t e r approach t h a n a m o r a l , l e g a l , o r s o c i o l o g i c one--but o n l y t h a t i t may be d i f f e r e n t and
i n i t s difference, a d d i t i v e t o the others.
From my v a n t a g e p o i n t , vandalism, then,
i s t h e symptom, t h e e n d p o i n t o f a d i s r u p t i v e
behavior.
As f o r any symptom, a l t h o u g h t h e
f i n a l r e s u l t s are s i m i l a r , the causative fact o r s may be c o n s i d e r a b l y d i f f e r e n t .
Yellow
j a u n d i c e may r e s u l t f r o m l i v e r d i s e a s e and t h e
b a c k i n g up o f b i l e p r o d u c t s i n t o t h e b l o o d .
The same symptom may r e s u l t f r o m a b l o o d d i s ease w i t h t h e breakdown o f r e d b l o o d c e l l s .
The causes may be c a n c e r , a l c o h o l , c e r t a i n
t y p e s o f anemia, o r t h e Anopheles m o s q u i t o and
m a l a r i a - - b u t a11 r e s u l t i n t h e same symptom.
So, t h e f i r s t t h i n g i s t o a t t e m p t a c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f the d i f f e r e n t psychological determin a n t s w h i c h may r e s u l t i n vandal ism.
I f you
t r y t o t r e a t t h e j a u n d i c e f r o m a l c o h o l i s m as
you would t h a t f r o m m a l a r i a , y o u ' r e g o i n g t o
have a l a r g e number o f v e r y dead p a t i e n t s .
I have searched t h e l i t e r a t u r e i n v a i n
f o r a c l a s s i f i c a t i o n o f vandalism from t h i s
p o i n t o f view, so what f o l l o w s i s an i n i t i a l
attempt:
1. T e r r i t o r i a l Imperative--The t e r m der i v e s f r o m o b s e r v a t i o n s by A r d r e v and o t h e r s
o f animal b e h a v i o r , namely, t h a t a l l a n i m a l s
attempt t o d e l i m i t t h e i r b o u n d a r i e s ~ t h e i r
' t u r f " i n modern v e n a c u l a r .
T h i s m i g h t be
c a l l e d t h e "1 i f t i n g t h e l e g " o r t h e " K i l r o y "
syndrome.
I n i t s g r o s s e s t f a s h i o n , i t can be
seen i n gang b e h a v i o r and t h e v a r i o u s markings
on b u i l d i n g s i n our c i t i e s .
I n more s u b t l e
forms--the c a r v i n g o n t r e e s , w r i t i n g i n men's
rooms, e t c . - - i t may be a way o f r e l i e v i n g t h e
t e n s i o n o f b e i n g i n a s t r a n g e a r e a and a d i s t o r t e d a t t e m p t t o m a i n t a i n p s y c h o l o g i c a l cont i n u i t y i n a s t r a n g e p l a c e , perhaps a s u b t l e
d e r i v a t i v e o f t h e homesickness o f y o u t h .
The
p o i n t h e r e i s t h a t h o s t i l i t y o r a g g r e s s i o n may
n o t be a m a j o r m o t i v a t i o n a l f o r c e .
2.
Frustration-Aggression Motivation--In
t h i s broad c a t e g o r y , a sense o f f r u s t r a t i o n ,
which i s r e a l l y a combination o f helplessness
and anger, a c q u i r e s an a g g r e s s i v e r e l e a s e .
It
i s important t h a t t h e r e i s a displacement from
the o r i g i n a l causative o b j e c t onto a passive
r e c i p i e n t o b j e c t . You g e t a n g r y a t t h e boss
and come home and k i c k t h e dog.
A child is
a n g r y w i t h a t e a c h e r ( r i g h t l y o r w r o n g l y ) and
breaks windows i n t h e s c h o o l . We see t h i s
type o f t h i n g normally i n c h i l d r e n ' s play-boys smash t o y c a r s t o g e t h e r and c h o r t l e i n
glee.
When t h e t o y c a r s become r e a l c a r s o r
t h e house o f b l o c k s becomes a school house-t h e n we have t r o u b l e s .
The p o i n t i s t h a t
t h e r e i s pent-up t e n s i o n w i t h i n t h e p e r s o n
w h i c h i s r e l i e v e d by a c t i o n and d e s t r u c t i o n .
The p a s s i v e r e c i p i e n t o f t h i s b e h a v i o r , t h e
object--a b u i l d i n g o r a t r e e o r a c a r - - i s not
t h e provocative agent, merely t h e receptor.
Indeed, a s k a boy who has b r o k e n a window why
he d i d i t , and he may we1 1 say, " I dunno" o r
' I d i d n ' t think1'--unfortunately too o f t e n true.
3. Purposeful--political--This i s a c a t e g o r y o f vandal ism t h a t u n f o r t u n a t e l y i s on
t h e r i s e . Witness t h e bombs, t h e f i r e s , t h e
" p u r p o s e f u l " d e s t r u c t i o n f o r some cause o r
message.
T h i s i s n o t j u s t " l e t t i n g o f f steam,"
b u t a planned and p u r p o s e f u l a c t w i t h an u l t e r i o r motive.
4 . P s y c h o t i c Vandalism--This f i n a l c a t e g o r y i s a d i s t i n c t one t h a t r e s u l t s f r o m what
we c l a s s i c a l l y d e s c r i b e as m e n t a l i l l n e s s .
Here t h e v i o l e n c e and vandal ism may be random
o r s e l e c t i v e depending on t h e n a t u r e o f t h e
i l l n e s s . The d i f f e r e n t i a t i n g p o i n t i s t h a t
t h e r e i s no avowed u l t e r i o r m o t i v e o t h e r t h a n
p l e a s u r e . The a r s o n i s t i s one example o f a
1 imited psychosis.
These, then, a r e f o u r c a t e g o r i e s t h a t I
have separated.
There may w e l l be o t h e r s and
there i s c e r t a i n l y overlapping.
But what i s
the value o f t h i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n - - a f t e r a l l
s h o u l d n ' t d i a g n o s i s l e a d t o t r e a t m e n t ~ o ra t
1 e a s t t o avoidance o f unnecessary t r e a t m e n t ?
Here, I t h i n k you can d i r e c t your t r e a t m e n t
a t t e m p t s t o c a t e g o r i e s 1 and 2. The p o l i c e
w i l l p l a y a m a j o r p a r t w i t h c a t e g o r y 3, and
t h e mental h e a l t h p r o f e s s i o n a l s w i t h c a t e g o r y
4 (once t h e v a n d a l s a r e apprehended). O f
c o u r s e t h i s s t a t e m e n t i s an o v e r s i m p l i f i c a t i o n ; a l l o f us may be i n v o l v e d i n d i f f e r e n t
ways w i t h each o f t h e s e c a t e g o r i e s .
B e f o r e I d i s c u s s t h e " t r e a t m e n t " phase
o f my m e d i c a l model, some f u r t h e r d i a g n o s t i c
c r i t e r i a a r e necessary. T h i s has t o do w i t h
t h e t i m i n g and frequency o f t h e vandalism.
Is
i t a c u t e o r c h r o n i c ? I s i t a sudden o u t b r e a k
l i k e an e p i d e m i c ? I s t h e r a t e o f i n c r e a s e gradu a l o r r a p i d ? I s t h e t y p e o f v a n d a l i s m changi n g ? C o n s i d e r a t i o n o f each may l e a d t o d i a g n o s i s , t r e a t m e n t and, w i t h e a r l y d i a g n o s i s ,
p r e v e n t i o n becomes more p o s s i b l e . The c l a s s i c
example i s a sudden o u t b r e a k o f v a n d a l i s m a t
a school o r p a r k - - i f i t i s epidemic i t always
i n d i c a t e s some m a j o r d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n between
s t u d e n t s and f a c u l t y o r young p e o p l e and p a r k
administration.
Almost always t h e r e i s some
breakdown o f communication which may need t o be
r e e s t a b l i s h e d by a v a r i e t y o f means.
I n Los
Angeles County and e l s e w h e r e i n t h e c o u n t r y we
have used teams o f mental h e a l t h p r o f e s s i o n a l s
who have gone i n t o s c h o o l s as c o n s u l t a n t s and
a s s i s t e d i n t h e r e e s t a b l ishment ( o r on some occ a s i o n s i n i t i a l e s t a b l ishment) o f school-community relations.
Could these be u s e f u l i n
parks o r o t h e r s i t u a t i o n s ?
Now l e t me p u t on my o t h e r h a t , t h e psyc h o a n a l y t i c one, and g e t down t o some t h i n g s
t h a t go on between t h e e a r s , and p a r t i c u l a r l y i n
t h e unconscious.
I want t o emphasize two main
p o i n t s already alluded to--these are ( i n our
terms) o b j e c t d i s t o r t i o n and t h e phenomenon o f
transference.
I have chosen these two because
they a r e u n i v e r s a l ; they occur t o greater o r
l e s s e r degree i n a l l o f us. The t r i c k t o i t i s ,
i f we a r e aware o f these phenomena t h e n we may
be a b l e t o a n t i c i p a t e them and t a k e measures t o
m i n i m i z e t h e i r e f f e c t s on b e h a v i o r .
I want t o
emphasize t h a t t h e s e a r e v e r y complex phenomena
and t h i s w i l l be o n l y t h e b r i e f e s t s u r f a c e skimming.
I n i t s c r u d e s t form, t r a n s f e r e n c e means
t h e d i s p l a c e m e n t o f f e e l i n g s o r emotions from
one p e r s o n o r o b j e c t t o a n o t h e r person o r object.
I n t h i s process the perceptions of curr e n t person o r o b j e c t may be d i s t o r t e d i n t h e
most s u b t l e o r g r o s s f a s h i o n s .
I s h o u l d mention
t h a t t h i s d i s p l a c e m e n t o f f e e l i n g s o r emotions, as
i t o c c u r s i n t h e unconscious, has no r e l a t i o n t o
r e a l t i m e and indeed o f t e n l i n k s t h e p a s t and
t h e p r e s e n t . The most o b v i o u s example would be
t h a t o f a p o l i c e m a n who i s t h e o b j e c t o f f e a r
and h o s t i l i t y even when t h e r e i s no immediate
cause f o r g u i l t .
He i s n o t b e i n g responded t o
as t h a t i n d i v i d u a l policeman--who may o r may
n o t be a n a s t y person. You m i g h t say he i s
seen as a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f a group by whom t h e
person has been t h r e a t e n e d i n t h e p a s t . Yet we
know t h a t t h i s same t y p e o f r e a c t i o n f r e q u e n t l y
o c c u r s i n t h o s e who have had no bad p r e v i o u s experiences w i t h p o l i c e .
I n the a n a l y s t ' s o f f i c e ,
t h e unconscious l i n k between t h e p o l i c e and t h e
p u n i s h i n g f a t h e r can o f t e n be d e t e r m i n e d .
Mind you, t h e l i n k , d i s t o r t i o n , o r misconnection
may have no r e l a t i o n t o t h e r e a l f a t h e r , b u t only
t o t h a t aspect o f t h e f a t h e r t h a t was i n v o l v e d in
punishment.
T h i s seemingly e s o t e r i c phenomenon has
r a t h e r i m p o r t a n t p r a c t i c a l r a m i f i c a t i o n s , f o r the
p o l i c e m a n ' s a c t u a l b e h a v i o r may f o s t e r o r d i m i n i s h these k i n d s o f d i s t o r t i o n s .
F o r example, i t
i s w i d e l y known i n p o l i c e c i r c l e s t h a t i n v o l v e ment i n a f a m i l y d i s p u t e can o f t e n r e s u l t i n
t h r e a t s o r i n j u r y t o t h e policeman who i n t e r v e n e s .
When, as i n many newer t r a i n i n g programs, t h e o f f i c e r can be t r a i n e d t o d e p a r t f r o m h i s u s u a l
f i r m o r noncommittal e x p r e s s i o n - - f o r example, t o
t a k e o f f h i s h a t , s i t down and ask f o r a g l a s s o f
w a t e r ~ t h eoutcome can be m a t e r i a l l y changed.
To
p u t i t more s u c c i n c t l y , when t h e o f f i c e r can come
a c r o s s as a human b e i n g , he d i m i n i s h e s t h e opport u n i t i e s t o p r o j e c t unfavorable c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
o n t o him. To t r a n s l a t e t h i s i n t o p r a c t i c a l terms
f o r p a r k and r e c r e a t i o n a r e a managers--what k i n d
o f u n i f o r m s s h o u l d p a r k o r school p o l i c e wear and
how s h o u l d t h e y be t r a i n e d ? Some s m a l l e r p o l i c e
departments have experimented w i t h r e p l a c i n g
t h e t r a d i t i o n a l u n i f o r m w i t h b l a z e r s - - w i t h success.
I n l a r g e r c i t y departments i t i s o f t e n
f e l t t h a t t h i s would d i l u t e p o l i c e a u t h o r i t y
t o a degree t h a t outweighs t h e advantages.
I
suspect t h e y a r e r i g h t . Again, t h e p o i n t i s
t h a t these s o l u t i o n s must be i n d i v i d u a l l y t a i l o r e d f o r each s p e c i f i c s i t u a t i o n . A t t e m p t s t o
employ a s i n g l e s o l u t i o n "across t h e board,''
though i t may be a good idea f o r a g i v e n s i t u a t i o n , may w e l l l e a d t o g e t t i n g a bad name and
being discarded.
I have a t t e m p t e d t o show how t h e s e psychoanalytic p r i n c i p l e s r e l a t e t o people.
But,
how do t h e y a p p l y t o t h i n g s ? I s i t by a c c i d e n t
we c a l l o u r s c h o o l s "Alma Mater"?
I s i t by
a c c i d e n t t h a t we c a l l o u r b o a t s "she"?
And
does t h i s " a c c i d e n t " r e s u l t i n o m n i p o t e n t d i s t o r t i o n s t h a t l e a d b o a t e r s , who a r e u n t r a i n e d o r
cannot swim, t o t a k e t h e i r b o a t s i n t o s i t u a t i o n s
f o r which t h e y a r e i l l prepared; a f t e r a l l ,
mother i s s a f e and she w i l l p r o t e c t us f r o m harm.
What about a s t a t e l y t r e e - - w h a t l e a d s a u s u a l l y
nonviolentperson t o carve h i s i n i t i a l s , mutil a t e i t , o r even hack i t down? I s i t a t r e e he
i s i n j u r i n g ( i n h i s m i n d ) , o r i s i t a symbol o f
beauty o r s t r e n g t h t h a t one e n v i e s and must dest r o y o r deface t o re1 i e v e h i s envy and sensat i o n s o f inadequacy? I n t h e s i m p l e s t terms, i s
i t a p h a l l i c symbol?--perhaps, b u t u s u a l l y much,
much more.
R e c e n t l y , I was i n Yosemite s i t t i n g on a
bench a t t h e base o f Yosemite F a l l s . Ten f e e t
away a young l a d y s a t on a s i m i l a r bench c a r e f u l l y c a r v i n g h e r i n i t i a l s . My f r i e n d b e r a t e d
h e r and r e c e i v e d a d e f e n s i v e , a n g r y , and b e l l i g e r e n t response b e f o r e she l e f t - - s h e was
c l e a r l y embarrassed. When I walked over, I
noted two o l d s e t s o f c a r v i n g s next t o where
she was " l i f t i n g her leg."
D i d t h e presence
o f o t h e r c a r v i n g s unconsciously a l l o w o r encourage her a c t i v i t i e s ? Would i t be c o s t e f f e c t i v e t o have some k i n d o f removal crew?-I d o n ' t know.
Again, a r e these i n s t i t u t i o n s - - o u r parks,
our schools--symbolic o f extensions o f our
f a m i l i e s ? Then, p a r t i c u l a r l y i f they a r e beaut i f u l and t h e r e a l f a m i l i e s a r e n o t , w i l l they
become t h e o b j e c t s o f d i s t o r t i o n and envy which
w i l l n e c e s s i t a t e m u t i l a t i o n t o "cut them down
t o s i z e " so t o speak? Now t h e paradox i s t h a t
i f we c a n a c t u a l l y l i n k our schools and parks
(even, dream o f dreams, our c i t i e s ) t o t h e r e a l
f a m i l y , then t h e c o n t r o l s o f t h e f a m i l y s e t t i n g
may be extended t o these i n s t i t u t i o n s and
p r o t e c t them from d i s t o r t i o n and d e s t r u c t i o n .
These a r e some o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s t h a t u n d e r l i e
t h e concepts o f developing community involvement
i n schools and neighborhood parks.
I n c l o s i n g , I want t o emphasize t h a t I have
o n l y b r i e f l y skimmed some o f t h e v e r y complex
phenomena i n v o l v e d i n vandalism.
L e t me merely
mention one o t h e r , t h a t i s , t h a t we a l l need
guidelines.
It i s only with f u l l maturity that
t h e g u i d e l i n e s o f behavior become f u l l y i n t e r n a l ized. Thus, d u r i n g o u r long (and too o f t e n
p e r p e t u a l ) p e r i o d s o f immaturity, t h e firmness,
consistency, r a t i o n a l i t y o f our e x t e r n a l guideIt is
l i n e s - - o u r laws--must be maintained.
important t h a t a system be developed whereby
transgress ions o f t h e g u i d e l ines a r e r a p i d 1 y
and a p p r o p r i a t e l y punished.
Excessive punishment f o r a p a r t i c u l a r crime i s as useless as an
inadequate reprimand and unsupervised p r o b a t i o n .
A f t e r a l l , t h e p o i n t i s t o f o s t e r growth and
i n t e r n a l i z a t i o n o f reasonable and a p p r o p r i a t e
g u i d e l ines so t h a t e x t e r n a l f o r c e and r e s t r i c t i o n s become l e s s r a t h e r than more necessary.
But t h i s i n v o l v e s t h e whole c r i m i n a l j u s t i c e
system and w i l l r e q u i r e c o n s i d e r a b l y more study.
Vandalism i s a problem o f and f o r s o c i e t y ,
b u t i s done by i n d i v i d u a l s o r small groups o f
people. To understand and prevent t h i s problem,
i t i s necessary t o understand the forces w i t h i n
the i n d i v i d u a l . Although broad s o c i e t a l changes
a r e i n v o l v e d , these a r e d e a l t w i t h l a r g e l y
through long-term p l a n n i n g and gradual and evoI t i s my f i r m c o n v i c t i o n
l u t i o n a l processes.
t h a t by d e a l i n g a t an i n d i v i d u a l o r small group
l e v e l , s i g n i f i c a n t changes and inroads can be
accomplished, o f t e n i n a s h o r t t i m e p e r i o d .
I
should a l s o mention c o s t e f f e c t i v e n e s s .
Is i t
more c o s t e f f e c t i v e t o r e p l a c e a l l t h e g l a s s
windows i n a school w i t h h i g h - t e n s i l e - s t r e n g t h
p l a s t i c ? I s i t more c o s t e f f e c t i v e t o develop
and m a i n t a i n a h i g h - l e v e l s e c u r i t y f o r c e a t a
school o r park? O r i s i t more c o s t e f f e c t i v e t o
have a v a i l a b l e a s p e c i f i c a l l y t r a i n e d mental
h e a l t h c o n s u l t a n t , one who i s f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e
s i t u a t i o n , t o h e l p develop programs o r f o s t e r
communications t o a v o i d o r minimize problems?
I t h i n k t h e l a t t e r may be v e r y c o s t e f f e c t i v e
indeed--ask t h e S a u s a l i t o P o l i c e Department and
many o t h e r groups I c o u l d name.
F i n a l l y , broad programs may be u s e f u l , b u t
they w i l l never r e p l a c e an i n d i v i d u a l i z e d problem-solving approach.
P s y c h i a t r i s t s and psychoanalysts do n o t have t h e answers. What we
have i s a s p e c i f i c vantage p o i n t ~ o ni n d i v i d u a l
and group behavior. T h i s vantage p o i n t i s one
o f t h e many t h a t must be i n c l u d e d i n t h e p l a n n i n g process i f we a r e t o deal e f f e c t i v e l y w i t h
these problems. The v a r i o u s programs I have a1luded t o should n o t be taken as d i r e c t suggest i o n s . The f i n a l s o l u t i o n s must r e s u l t from
your c r e a t i v e t h i n k i n g . 2
2 ~ s e f u lreferences i n c l u d e :
Hudson, Bob.
1975. Vandals, should they be
hanged? Munic. and Publ. Serv. J. 13
(July).
P r i n g l e , Mia Kellmer.
1973. P r o p e r t y under
attack.
Munic. and Publ. Serv. J . 13
(July).
P r i n g l e , Mia Kellmer.
1973. Understanding
t h e m i s f i t s . Munic. and Publ. Serv. J .
13 ( J u l y ) .
P r i n g l e , Mia K e l l m e r 1974. The r o o t s o f
v i o l e n c e and vandalism.
Commun. H e a l t h
6:84.
Ward, C o l i n . 1971. Vandalism and v i o l e n c e .
N a t l . School P u b l . R e l a t . Assoc.
Ward, C o l i n , e d i t o r 1973. Vandalism. 327 p.
Van Nostrand R e i n h o l d Co., New York.
U.S. Senate Committee Report.
1975. V i o l e n c e
i n o u r schools.
C u r r e n t (Nov. i s s u e ) .
Vandalistic Forest Fire Setting
William S, ~ o l k r n a n l
VANDAL IST I C FOREST FIRES
More than 90 p e r c e n t o f t h e 100,000 w i l d l a n d f i r e s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s each y e a r owe
t h e i r o r i g i n t o man o r some agency o f man.
What p e r c e n t a g e o f these f i r e s m i g h t be c l a s s i f i e d as v a n d a l i s m depends on t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f
t h i s i m p r e c i s e term.
W i l d f i r e s a r e s t a r t e d by
a v a r i e t y o f p e o p l e and t h e i r m o t i v e s a r e even
more mixed. F i r e - s t a r t b e h a v i o r ranges f r o m
the innocent p l a y o f a c h i l d t o t h e d e l i b e r a t e ,
p r e m e d i t a t e d a c t o f an a r s o n i s t ; f r o m t h e unt h i n k i n g c a r e l e s s n e s s o f a n o v i c e camper t o
the compulsive " a c t i n g out" o f a pathological
p e r s o n a l i t y ; from the conditioned r e f l e x a c t i o n
o f a smoker d i s c a r d i n g a match o r c i g a r e t t e
b u t t t o the v i o l e n t expression o f a social prot e s t e r . A c t i v i t y more t y p i c a l l y r e c o g n i z e d as
v a n d a l i s t i c ~ t h es o - c a l l e d "wanton," " ~ e n s e l e s s , ~ '
o r "motiveless" s e t t i n g o f brush o r grass f i r e s
by groups o f y o u t h s - - i s a s e r i o u s problem i n
some a r e a s , t h e r u r a l complement o f t o r c h i n g
palm t r e e s o r t o s s i n g i n c e n d i a r y m a t e r i a l i n t o
parked a u t o m o b i l e s .
The harassment o f f i r e
c o n t r o l o r g a n i z a t i o n s by m a l i c i o u s s e t t i n g
I t i s n o t unknown
o f f i r e s i s n o t uncommon.
f o r y o u t h f u l o f f - d u t y firemen t o annoy t h e i r
comrades on a n o t h e r s h i f t by s e t t i n g a s e r i e s
o f nuisance f i r e s .
CULTURAL INFLUENCES
Incendiary f o r e s t f i r e s are p a r t i c u l a r l y
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e Southern U n i t e d S t a t e s .
There i n c e n d i a r i s m accounts f o r a l m o s t 40 p e r c e n t o f a l l f o r e s t f i r e s , i n c o n t r a s t t o 25
percent nationwide. A c u l t u r a l perspective i s
h e l p f u l t o understanding o f t h e p r a c t i c e o f
'woods b u r n i n g " i n t h e S o u t h e a s t e r n U n i t e d
S t a t e s , and a l s o sheds l i g h t on c a r e l e s s f i r e
s t a r t i n g i n the r e s t o f the country.
(Culture
i s used h e r e i n a broad sense, f o r t h e b e h a v i o r
S e n i o r Social S c i e n t i s t i n F i r e Prevention,
P a c i f i c Southwest F o r e s t and Range Experiment
S t a t i o n , Berkeley, C a l i f o r n i a .
p a t t e r n s , a t t i t u d e s , v a l u e s , and m a t e r i a l
o b j e c t s which men employ i n c o p i n g w i t h t h e i r
e n v i r o n m e n t - - i t i s t h e s o c i a l , as opposed t o
the b i o l o g i c a l , inheritance o f a people.)
The
c u l t u r a l h a b i t s o f i n d i f f e r e n c e , carelessness,
and i n s e n s i t i v i t y t h a t l e a d t o o u r n o t o r i o u s
l i t t e r i n g b e h a v i o r must s u r e l y e x t e n d t o t h e
c a r e l e s s way i n which f i r e i s handled i n o u r
f o r e s t e d areas.
Hansbrough (1963) f i n d s cons i d e r a b l e evidence t h a t e a r l y w h i t e s e t t l e r s
i n t h e Southern r e g i o n adopted t h e l o n g - s t a n d ing burning p r a c t i c e s o f Indians o f the area-as a h u n t i n g a i d , t o c l e a r t h e underbrush so
as t o f a c i l i t a t e v i s i b i l i t y and t r a v e l , t o
i n c r e a s e t h e growth o f p r e f e r r e d p l a n t s , and
t o p r e p a r e seedbeds.
The s e t t l e r s soon found
a d d i t i o n a l j u s t i f i c a t i o n s f o r burning.
Today, "woods-burning" i s s t i l l a p a r t o f
the C u l t u r a l h e r i t a g e o f the South--despite
e f f o r t s o f p r o f e s s i o n a l f o r e s t managers t o
d i s c o u r a g e t h e p r a c t i c e . Welch (1970) found
t h a t y o u t h s i n h i g h f i r e o c c u r r e n c e a r e a s had
absorbed p a r e n t a l a t t i t u d e s s u p p o r t i n g a
'burning1' culture.
I n some l o c a l i t i e s , woodsb u r n i n g has become a r e t a l i a t o r y weapon.
In
a d d i t i o n t o t h e t r a d i t i o n a l reasons f o r burni n g , s e t t i n g f i r e s has become a method f o r exp r e s s i n g antagonism toward governmental agencies
and l a r g e t i m b e r companies--antagonism developed
i n l a r g e measure from p a s t e f f o r t s o f t h e s e
o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o suppress e s t a b l i s h e d customs .2
Studies o f residents i n incendiary "hot
spots" (Bai r d 1965; B e r t r a n d and o t h e r s 1970;
Hansbrough 1961; Jones and o t h e r s 1965) found
the following c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s noticeable i n
2 ~ r o f e s s i o n a l f o r e s t e r s were slow i n recogn i z i n g t h e u t i l i t y o f f i r e as a f o r e s t management t o o l .
C a r e f u l l y prescribed burning f o r
s p e c i f i c management o b j e c t i v e s i s now g e n e r a l l y
accepted, b u t i n d i s c r i m i n a t e p r i v a t e f i r e
s e t t i n g i s s t i l l strongly proscribed.
heads o f households:
t h e y t e n d t o be o l d e r , t o
have l i m i t e d e d u c a t i o n , t o be h i g h l y l o c a l i z e d
i n t h e i r o r i e n t a t i o n , and t o be unemployed o r
underemployed, r e t i r e d , o r w o r k i n g i n u n s k i l l e d
occupations.
I t i s a l s o necessary, however, t o know somet h i n g about the organizations conducting a
f i r e p r e v e n t i o n program.
I n our studies o f
a S t a t e agency (Sarapata and F o l kman 1970)
and o f N a t i o n a l F o r e s t o r g a n i z a t i o n s ( ~ h r i s t i a n s e n and o t h e r s 1976) we have sought t o
f i n d o u t how t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n i s s e t up and
s t a f f e d ; t h e a t t i t u d e s , v a l u e s , and e x p e c t a t i o n s o f t h e employees; and how w o r k e r s a t
each l e v e l d e f i n e t h e f i r e p r e v e n t i o n problem, p e r c e i v e i t s importance, and e v a l u a t e
t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e methods and t e c h n i q u e s used. A11 o f t h e s e a f f e c t t h e t y p e
o f program t h a t can be mounted and t h e q u a l i t y o f i t s execution.
C l e a r l y , then, c u l t u r e s t r o n g l y d e t e r m i n e s
incendiary behavior i n areas o f h i g h f o r e s t
f i r e r i s k i n t h e Southern S t a t e s . The cont i n u i n g sentiment f o r burning, along w i t h i n adequate u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f f o r e s t r y a g e n c i e s and
t h e i r work, u n d o u b t e d l y a c c o u n t s i n l a r g e p a r t
f o r the continuing high r a t e s o f incendiarism.
I n t h e West, i n c e n d i a r i s m c o n t r i b u t e s t o
t h e i n c i d e n c e o f f o r e s t f i r e s , too, b u t t o a
much more l i m i t e d e x t e n t .
Generally, s t a r t i n g
f i r e s i s n o t s u p p o r t e d by t h e c u l t u r e , and i s
considered a n t i s o c i a l , malicious, o r pathological.
The i n c e n d i a r i s m t h a t o c c u r s i n t h e West
has a d i v e r s e o r i g i n , r a n g i n g f r o m p r i m a r i l y
economic m o t i v e s t o s o c i a l p r o t e s t , t o c l a s s i c a l psychopathology.
,
L o c a l o p i n i o n l e a d e r s , s h a r i n g many o f t h e
same c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s as t h e audience t o be i n f l u e n c e d , have been used s u c c e s s f u l l y i n L o u i s i ana and M i s s i s s i p p i i n d e a l i n g w i t h t h e i r i n O f s p e c i a l importance i n
c e n d i a r y problem.
t h i s program were t h e c h o i c e o f a " c o n t a c t o r " ,
and t h e manner i n w h i c h t h e message was p r e s e n t ed.
The c o n t a c t o r ' s success was found t o
depend on h i s acceptance by b o t h t h e l o c a l
p e o p l e and t h e f i r e p r e v e n t i o n agency.
He
must be a l e a d e r , p h i l o s o p h e r , and f r i e n d t o
most o f t h e p e o p l e i n t h e community and one
who i n s p i r e s r a p p o r t and t r u s t .
Similarly,
messages w i t h n e g a t i v e c o n n o t a t i o n s ( " ~ o n ' t
b u r n t h e woods") a r e d i f f i c u l t t o s e l l . Messages o r i e n t e d toward t h e r e c o g n i z e d needs o f
t h e l o c a l p e o p l e , i n c l u d i n g when o r how t o
burn s a f e l y ( i f burning i s necessary), o r
what h e l p i s a v a i l a b l e ( i n p l o w i n g f i r e lanes,
f o r example) a r e more s u c c e s s f u l .
Our s t u d i e s show t h a t a l t h o u g h successf u l f i r e p r e v e n t i o n work f r e q u e n t l y r e q u i r e s
c o n s i d e r a b l e e x p e r i e n c e and t r a i n i n g , t h e
program p e r s o n n e l had r e c e i v e d l i t t l e spec i a l i z e d t r a i n i n g and were expected t o p i c k
up t h e needed e x p e r t i s e on t h e j o b .
A study r e l a t i n g personnel c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
t o f i r e p r e v e n t i o n e f f e c t i v e n e s s 4 found t h a t
e f f e c t i v e and i n e f f e c t i v e employees d i d n o t
d i f f e r s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n such socio-economic
o r demographic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s as age, r a c e ,
m a r i t a l s t a t u s , r u r a l / u r b a n o r i g i n , educat i o n a l l e v e l and employment h i s t o r y . They
d i f f e r e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y , however, i n 1)
sense o f community, 2) c o n f o r m i t y , 3) des i r e
f o r self-improvement, 4 ) e x t r o v e r s i o n , 5)
importance g i v e n t o o c c u p a t i o n , 6) a c c e p t ance o f s e l f and o t h e r , 7) a b i 1 i t y t o communicate, and 8) achievement o r i e n t a t i o n .
Although f u r t h e r t e s t i n g i s needed, t h e s e measures
appear p r o m i s i n g f o r e s t i m a t i n g t h e p o t e n t i a l
effectiveness o f prospective f i r e prevention
employees.
MASS COMMUNICATION
Most o f o u r r e s e a r c h and a p p l i c a t i o n
e f f o r t s have been d i r e c t e d toward d e f i n i n g and
r e a c h i n g t h e persons we d e s i r e d t o i n f l u e n c e .
fluence.
Agencies r e s p o n s i b l e f o r f o r e s t f i r e p r o t e c t i o n depend upon t h e mass m e d i a ~ p r i m a r i l y
r a d i o and t e l e v i s i o n ~ f o rmuch o f t h e i r p r e v e n tion effort.
Mass communication i s a h i g h l y
complex process, and t h e r e a r e no s i m p l e f o r mulae f o r i t s use. The r e c e p t i o n o f t h e communic a t i o n i s f i l t e r e d by t h e r e c i p i e n t ' s own values,
l o y a l t i e s , i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , e x p e c t a t i o n s , defenses,
and frames o f r e f e r e n c e ; by h i s t o t a l p e r s o n a l i t y ;
and by t h e p a r t i c u l a r s e t t i n g i n w h i c h t h e message
i s r e c e i v e d . The message must be t r a n s m i t t e d a t
a t i m e when t h e r e c i p i e n t can r e c e i v e i t . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , p u b l i c a g e n c i e s have l i m i t e d c o n t r o l
o v e r t h e t i m i n g o f t h e i r r e l e a s e s , dependent as
t h e y a r e on t h e commercial media f o r donated pub1 i c
service time.
3 ~ o o l i t t l e ,Max L . , and G.D. We Ich
1973.
E v a l u a t i o n o f a f o r e s t f i r e prevent i o n program.
R e p o r t on f i I e , USDA Fore s t S e r v i c e , Southern Fores t Exp. Stn.,
New O r l e a n s , La.
and M.H. Kootsher
" ~ e r c e r , C.W.,
1974. Personnel c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s and f i r e
p r e v e n t i o n e f f e c t i v e n e s s . R e p o r t on f i l e ,
USDA Southern F o r e s t Exp. Stn., New O r l e a n s ,
La.
The p r i n c i p l e o f f a c e - t o - f a c e c o n t a c t by
p e r s o n s who have l e g i t i m a c y w i t h t h e group t o
be i n f l u e n c e d appears t o be w i d e l y a p p l i c a b l e .
"One o f t h e i r own k i n d , " w i t h whom p r o b l e m
groups o f y o u t h s c o u l d more r e a d i l y i d e n t i f y ,
has been used i n some F o r e s t s w i t h moderate
success.
FIRE PREVENTION PROGRAMS
Most f i r e p r e v e n t i o n e f f o r t assumes t h a t
most o f t h e f o r e s t - u s i n g p u b l i c a r e b a s i c a l l y
w e l l - m e a n i n g and need o n l y t o be i n f o r m e d o r
reminded o f d e s i r e d b e h a v i o r i n o r d e r t o comply.
Such an assumption i s h a r d l y w a r r a n t e d i n d e a l ing w i t h vandalistic f i r e setters.
Bernard!
(1973) has done some e x p e r i m e n t a l w o r k w i t h TV
s p o t s s p e c i f i c a l l y designed t o appeal t o h i g h r i s k y o u t h and young a d u l t audiences, t h e group
i n w h i c h v a n d a l i s m seems most l i k e l y . Considera b l e success i n changing a t t i t u d e s and knowl e d g e was a c h i e v e d when t h e s p o t s were used i n
a c l a s s r o o m s i t u a t i o n , b u t r e s u l t s were n o t
measurable when t h e s p o t s were t r a n s m i t t e d
o v e r commercial t e l e v i s i o n channels.
DELIBERATE FIRE SETTING
The o n l y r e s e a r c h we have done t o d a t e on
i n c e n d i a r y f i r e s i n t h e West was a s t u d y o f
c h i l d r e n known t o have been i n v o l v e d i n one o r
more f i r e i n c i d e n t s (Seigelman and Folkman
1971). M u l t i p l e f i r e s e t t i n g was found t o be a
symptom o f a number o f a s s o c i a t e d problems
(such as e x c e s s i v e a c t i v i t y , a g g r e s s i o n ,
psychosomatic i l l n e s s , and f a m i l y and school
d i f f i c u l t i e s ) r a t h e r t h a n t h e b a s i c problem.
I n o t h e r words, t h e s e were t r o u b l e d c h i l d r e n who
happened t o use f i r e as a means o f s t r i k i n g back
a t an u n r e w a r d i n g s o c i a l w o r l d o r as a c r y f o r
h e l p i n c o p i n g w i t h overwhelming problems. The
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f f i r e make i t a p a r t i c u l a r l y
e f f e c t i v e means f o r a c h i e v i n g these d e s i r e d
ends.
The c h i l d h i m s e l f may n o t be a b l e t o
v e r b a l i z e t h e m o t i v a t i o n f o r h i s a c t i o n s and i t
may n o t be a p p a r e n t t o t h e u n s e n s i t i z e d o b s e r v e r .
( I use t h e m a s c u l i n e gender h e r e d e l i b e r a t e l y - a l l t h e c h i l d r e n i n t h e s t u d y p o p u l a t i o n were
males, and o v e r 90 p e r c e n t o f a l l c h i l d r e n ident i f i e d w i t h any t y p e o f f i r e i n c i d e n t a r e males.)
Our s t u d y makes c l e a r t h a t t h e terms "wanton,"
' s e n s e l e s s , " and " m o t i v e l e s s " a r e h a r d l y approp r i a t e f o r the behavior o f these c h i l d r e n .
For i n t e r v e n t i o n , e a r l y i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f
p o t e n t i a l problem c h i l d r e n i s e s s e n t i a l . F i r e
i n v e s t i g a t i o n p e r s o n n e l cannot be expected t o
provide therapeutic assistance, but i f t h e i r
i n v e s t i g a t i o n r e v e a l s t h a t a c h i l d shows seve r a l o f t h e symptoms i n t h e p a t t e r n , community
r e s o u r c e s s h o u l d be c a l l e d i n . They can a s s i s t
t h e c h i l d i n r e s o l v i n g h i s problems b e f o r e h i s
b e h a v i o r becomes i r r e v e r s i b l y f i x e d .
F i r e problem a d u l t s a r e n o t o r i o u s l y r e s i s t a n t t o t h e r a p y .
The c h i l d r e n i n o u r s t u d y were chosen
because t h e y were a l r e a d y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h f i r e
setting.
B u t most c h i l d r e n who cause f i r e s a r e
a p p a r e n t l y normal.
F i r e has a u n i v e r s a l f a s c i n a t i o n , and most c h i l d r e n a t one t i m e o r a n o t h e r
engage i n some f i r e p l a y o r e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n . We
were i n t e r e s t e d i n how such c h i l d r e n l e a r n t h e
a p p r o p r i a t e s k i l l s , u n d e r s t a n d i n g s , and a t t i t u d e s
t h a t m e d i a t e a g a i n s t t h e misuse o f f i r e .
The b e h a v i o r o f normal c h i l d r e n i n r e l a t i o n
t o f i r e was s t u d i e d i n a group o f 5- and 6-yearo l d s a t t e n d i n g school a t t h e H a r o l d E . Jones
C h i l d Study Center o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a , B e r k e l e y . The s t u d y f o c u s was t h e i r
competence i n p o t e n t i a l l y hazardous s i t u a t i o n s
( B l o c h and o t h e r s 1976). T h i s s t u d y was an
o u t g r o w t h o f a more extended i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f
c o g n i t i v e competence and s o c i a l o r i n t e r p e r s o n a l
competence.
Base d a t a was accumulated f r o m t h e
t i m e t h e y e n t e r e d t h e school a t age 3.
Wide i n d i v i d u a l d i f f e r e n c e s i n a t t i t u d e s
about f i r e were found, d e s p i t e n a r r o w age
l i m i t s , r e l a t i v e homogeneity, and t h e s m a l l
numbers i n t h e sample a v a i l a b l e f o r s t u d y .
No
p a r t i c u l a r theory o f childhood f i r e - s e t t i n g
b e h a v i o r was expounded i n t h e r e s e a r c h , however,
i t s p r i m a r y v a l u e i s i n hypotheses suggested
f o r f u r t h e r s t u d y , and i n i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r modi f y i n g t h e p r e v e n t i o n programs o f f i r e p r o t e c t i o n agencies.
The s t u d y f i n d i n g s suggest t h a t f i r e p l a y
i n v e r y young c h i l d r e n i s common and s h o u l d be
viewed as c u r i o u s , e x p l o r a t o r y p l a y r a t h e r t h a n
the psychologically driven, psychopathological
b e h a v i o r t h a t m i g h t be seen i n f i r e - s e t t i n g by
older children.
We found s i m i l a r i t i e s i n p e r s o n a l i t y
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s between c h i l d r e n w i t h h i g h
a c c i d e n t l i a b i l i t y and t h o s e showing a keen
interest i n f i r e .
Both t h e hazards encountered
and t h e a b i l i t y t o cope w i t h hazards were cons i d e r e d . We concluded t h a t methods used i n
a c c i d e n t p r e v e n t i o n may be a d a p t a b l e t o f i r e
prevention e f f o r t s .
I t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t i n c r e a s e d c o n t r o l and
r i s k avoidance would be g a i n e d a t t h e expense
o f s p o n t a n e i t y and c r e a t i v i t y .
Therefore prev e n t i o n e f f o r t s m i g h t b e t t e r be d i r e c t e d toward
i m p r o v i n g a b i l i t y t o cope w i t h e n v i r o n m e n t a l
hazards than toward r e d u c i n g exposure t o r i s k s
by d i s c o u r a g i n g o t h e r w i s e d e s i r a b l e b e h a v i o r
patterns.
The goal would be t o h e l p t h e c h i l d
d e v e l o p competence i n h a n d l i n g p o t e n t i a l l y
dangerous m a t e r i a l s ( o r s i t u a t i o n s ) , as he
matures.
Another s u g g e s t i o n drawn f r o m t h i s s t u d y i s
t h a t i n t e r v e n t i o n programs must r e a c h t h e c h i l d
e a r l y i n h i s l i f e . By t h e age o f f i v e , many
c h i l d r e n a r e a l r e a d y i n t e r e s t e d i n and e x p e r i menting w i t h f i r e .
P a r e n t s have had l i t t l e h e l p
i n u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e p r o c e s s by w h i c h c h i l d r e n
l e a r n t o r e c o g n i z e and d e a l w i t h p o t e n t i a l l y
dangerous s i t u a t i o n s .
Consequently, p a r e n t a l
e f f o r t s vary i n effectiveness.
Many p a r e n t s a r e
p a r t i c u l a r l y l a x about teaching t h e i r c h i l d r e n
about f i r e - - o v e r one-fourth o f those queried
make no a t t e m p t t o do so.
I t i s apparent t h a t
p a r e n t s who a r e unsure o f how t o t e a c h t h e i r
c h i l d r e n s a f e t y s k i l l s would b e n e f i t f r o m b e i n g
shown a l t e r n a t i v e s from which they might s e l e c t
a method s u i t a b l e t o the p a r t i c u l a r needs o f
t h e i r c h i l d and compatible w i t h t h e i r own needs
and c a p a b i l i t i e s . There a r e many d i f f i c u l t i e s
i n p r o v i d i n g such h e l p e f f e c t i v e l y , however.
One suggestion i s a t r a i n i n g f i l m f o r parents
i l l u s t r a t i n g v a r i o u s p o s s i b l e teaching s t r a t e gies,
Other s o c i a l i z a t i o n emphases found i n t h i s
study t o be a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e development o f
competence i n h a n d l i n g f i r e m a t e r i a l s should be
considered. P a r e n t a l c h i l d - r e a r i n g p r a c t i c e s
a r e needed t h a t encourage t h e c h i l d t o assume
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , t o be independent, and t o make
r a t i o n a l decisions, i n the context o f c l e a r
p a r e n t a l e x p e c t a t i o n s , respect, and c a r i n g .
Such p r a c t i c e s may be expected t o promote the
development o f ego s t r u c t u r e s i n t h e c h i l d t h a t
w i l l b o t h b e n e f i t growth and minimize p l a y w i t h
fire.
CONCLUSIONS
F i r e has had a r o l e i n c e r t a i n e c o l o g i c a l
systems, and h i g h l y t r a i n e d t e c h n i c i a n s may use
f i r e as a f o r e s t management t o o l . Today, however, an u n c o n t r o l l e d f o r e s t f i r e i s almost
always a s e r i o u s t h r e a t t o important n a t u r a l resource values as w e l l as t o human l i f e and
p r o p e r t y . The m a j o r i t y o f f o r e s t f i r e s a r e t h e
r e s u l t o f inadvertent, o r negligent--not d e l i b erateÑact
o f man. They a r e a c c i d e n t s .
Interv e n t i v e a c t i o n s t h a t a r e a p p r o p r i a t e f o r accident a l f i r e s a r e p r o b a b l y n o t the most e f f e c t i v e
means o f d e a l i n g w i t h f i r e s o f d e l i b e r a t e , vandalistic origin.
As a d m i n i s t r a t o r s and as researchers, we
tend toward a somewhat p a r o c h i a l , pragmatic
view o f o u r problems. We a r e a p t t o focus,
f o r example, on how we m i g h t deal w i t h expected
vandalism a t Bass Lake on Memorial Day Weekend,
r a t h e r than on t h e causes o f such s o c i a l phenomena.
Although 1 recognize t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n a l
r e s t r a i n t s under which we operate, I have a
sense o f f u t i l i t y i n a t t e m p t i n g t o r e s o l v e a
major s o c i a l problem through l o c a l i z e d i n t e r vention.
I hope t h a t we can escape, t o some
degree, from t h e l i m i t e d p e r s p e c t i v e s we have
f o r c e d upon us, o r we f o r c e upon o u r s e l v e s .
' S c h l o c k " i s a u s e f u l term t h a t c h a r a c t e r i z e s much o f o u r m a t e r i a l c u l t u r e today.
It
d e s c r i b e s gadgets and products t h a t a r e useless,
unworkable, s h o d d i l y c o n s t r u c t e d , and sometimes
dangerous.
I t has a l s o been a p p l i e d t o t h e
p r o d u c t s o f some s o c i a l s c i e n t i s t s and t h e i r
camp f o l l o w e r s who c a t e r t o t h e p u b l i c ' s need
f o r q u i c k , easy answers t o a seemingly unending
succession o f t h r e a t e n i n g s o c i a l problems-answers t h a t a r e p a l a t a b l e b u t s l i c k and superf i c i a l ( C l a i b o r n e 1971). Often some key word
o r t r e n d phrase ( " f u t u r e shock," " t h e naked
ape," "the greening o f America," " t e r r i t o r i a l
imperative") provides a catchy handle f o r a
s i m p l i s t i c view o f uncomfortably complex
problems artin in 1972).
Vandalism, t h e focus o f t h i s symposium, i s
an imprecise term t h a t covers a v a r i e t y o f
types o f behavior and m o t i v a t i o n s . P u b l i c
repugnance t o t h e h i g h l y v i s i b l e "wanton,"
"senseless," and "motiveless" d e s t r u c t i o n o f
p r o p e r t y ; p u b l i c "viewing w i t h alarm," and
r e s u l t a n t pressures f o r a c t i o n tempt many t o
accept schlock s o l u t i o n s .
My hope i s t h a t t h e
members o f t h i s symposium w i l l n o t succumb t o
the temptation.
LITERATURE CITED
B a i r d , Andrew W.
1965. A t t i t u d e s and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f
forest residents i n three Mississippi
Counties.
S o c i a l Center Rep. 8, 48 p.
S t a t e College, Miss.
Bernard i , Gene C.
1973. F i r e p r e v e n t i o n f i l m spots f o r
n a r r a t o r i n f l u e n c e on
television
knowledge and a t t i t u d e change. USDA
F o r e s t Serv. Res. Paper PSW-94, 1 4 p.
P a c i f i c Southwest F o r e s t and Range
Exp. Stn., Berkeley, C a l i f .
...
Bertrand, A l v i n L., W i l l i a m D. Heffernan,
G. Dale Welch, and John P. O I C a r r o l l .
1970. A t t i t u d i n a l p a t t e r n s p r e v a l e n t
i n a f o r e s t area w i t h h i g h incendiarism.
B u l l . 648. 20 p. L o u i s i a n a S t a t e Univ.,
L o u i s i a n a A g r i c . Exp. Stn., Baton Rouge.
Block, Jeanne H., Jack Block, and W i l l i a m S.
Fol kman
1976. F i r e and c h i l d r e n : l e a r n i n g s u r v i v a l
s k i l l s . USDA F o r e s t Serv. Res. Paper
PSW-119, 14 p. P a c i f i c Southwest F o r e s t
and Range Exp. Stn., Berkeley, C a l i f .
C h r i s t i a n s e n , John R., W i l l i a m S. Folkman,
K e i t h W. Warner, and Michael L. Woolcott
1976. O r g a n i z a t i o n a l f a c t o r s i n f i r e prev e n t i o n : r o l e s , o b s t a c l e s , and recommendations.
USDA F o r e s t Serv. Res. Paper 116.
13 p. P a c i f i c Southwest F o r e s t and Range
Exp. Stn., Berkeley, Cal i f .
Claiborne, Robert
1971. F u t u r e schlock.
117-120.
The N a t i o n 212 ( 6 ) :
Hansbrough, Thomas
1961. A s o c i o l o g i c a l a n a l y s i s o f man-caused
f o r e s t f i r e s i n Louisiana.
Ph.D. d i s s e r t a t i o n , Louisiana S t a t e Univ., Baton Rouge.
Hansbrough, Thomas
1963. Southern f o r e s t s and Southern people.
L o u i s i a n a S t a t e U n i v . Press, Baton Rouge.
p r a c t i c e s . USDA F o r e s t Serv. Res. Paper
PSW-65, 10 p. P a c i f i c Southwest F o r e s t
and Range Exp. Stn., B e r k e l e y , C a l i f .
Jones, A r t h u r , J r . , M. Lee T a y l o r , and A l v i n
L. B e r t r a n d
1965. Some human f a c t o r s i n woods b u r n i n g .
Louisiana State Univ., Louisiana Agric.
Exp. Stn., Baton Rouge. B u l l . 601, 27 p.
Siegelman, E l l e n Y., and W i l l i a m S . Folkman
1971. Y o u t h f u l f i r e - s e t t e r s
an e x p l o r a t o r y s t u d y i n p e r s o n a l i t y and background.
USDA F o r e s t Serv. Res. Note PSW-230, 6 p.
P a c i f i c Southwest F o r e s t and Range Exp. Stn.
Berkeley, C a l i f .
Martin, Malachi
1972. The s c i e n t i s t as shaman.
244 (3) :54-57.
m.
Harper's
...
Welch, G i l b e r t D.
1970. The t r a n s f e r e n c e o f a t t i t u d e s o f
r u r a l parents t o t h e i r c h i l d r e n .
Ph.D.
d i s s e r t a t i o n , Louisiana State Univ.,
Baton Route.
Sarapata, Adam, and W i l l i a m S . Folkman
1970. F i r e p r e v e n t i o n i n t h e C a l i f o r n i a
D i v i s i o n o f F o r e s t r y . . . p e r s o n n e l and
Control o f Vandalism in Recreation Areas--Fact, Fiction, or Folklore?
Roger N. ~ l a r k l
Fact:
We know i t i s t r u e .
Fiction:
Folklore:
We know i t i s n o t t r u e .
We b e l i e v e i t i s t r u e , b u t i t
may n o t be.
The purpose o f t h i s paper i s t o p r o v i d e an
o v e r v i e w o f t h e s t a t e - o f - t h e - a r t o f knowledge
o f v a n d a l i s m i n r e c r e a t i o n a r e a s and how i t can
be c o n t r o l l e d .
S e l e c t e d l i t e r a t u r e on t h i s topi c i s e v a l u a t e d f o r p r a c t i c a l i m p l i c a t i o n s , and
procedures f o r c o n t r o l l i n g vandalism i n recreat i o n areas a r e described.
Research needs a r e
out! ined.
This discussion i s l i m i t e d t o vandalism i n
o u t d o o r r e c r e a t i o n areas.
I have i n c l u d e d
l i t t l e m a t e r i a l on t h e more g e n e r a l t o p i c o f
deviant behavior i n r e c r e a t i o n areas.
Specific
types o f v a n d a l i s m and p o s s i b l e v a r i a t i o n by
g e o g r a p h i c areas a r e n o t d i s c u s s e d . As an o v e r view, t h i s d i s c u s s i o n i s n o t a s u b s t i t u t e f o r a
thorough r e v i e w o f t h e a v a i l a b l e l i t e r a t u r e
on v a n d a l i s m and management p r a c t i c e s f o r
c o n t r o l l i n g t h e problem.
VANDALISM--ITS
NATURE AND EXTENT
Other papers i n t h i s symposium have desP r i n c i p a l Research S o c i a l S c i e n t i s t , P a c i f i c
N o r t h w e s t F o r e s t and Range Experiment S t a t i o n ,
P o r t l a n d , Oregon.
c r i b e d v a n d a l i s m problems, and I w o n ' t p r e s e n t
a d e t a i l e d a n a l y s i s h e r e . But a few examples
may h e l p p u t my d i s c u s s i o n i n p e r s p e c t i v e .
Needless t o say, vandalism i s a common problem
i n many environments i n t h s c o u n t r y as w e l l as
i n other countries.
Vanda ism i s a major conc e r n f o r managers o f r e c r e a t i o n areas and i s
r e c o g n i z e d as a problem by many r e c r e a t i o n i s t s
as w e l l ( d a r k and o t h e r s 1971b).
The monetary impact o f v a n d a l i s m i s s t a g g e r i n g . The t o t a l y e a r l y l o s s from v a n d a l i s m
n a t i o n w i d e i s e s t i m a t e d a t $ 4 b i l l i o n (Ward
1973). School v a n d a l i s m c o s t s o v e r $200 m i l l i o n
per year (Anonymous 1973a, 1973b). The U.S.
F o r e s t S e r v i c e r e p o r t s vandalism i n t h e N a t i o n a l
F o r e s t s c o s t t h e U.S. taxpayers o v e r $ 3 m i l l i o n
i n 1 9 7 4 . ~ They a l s o r e p o r t v a n d a l i s m c o s t s a r e
up 50 p e r c e n t s i n c e 1969. On t h e Los Padres
N a t i o n a l F o r e s t a l o n e , c o s t s r e l a t e d t o vand a l i s m were more than $170,000 i n 1976. Other
agencies r e p o r t e q u a l l y l a r g e l o s s e s f r o m
vandalism i n t h e i r r e c r e a t i o n a r e a s .
D i s c u s s i o n s w i t h s e v e r a l managers i n t h e
Forest Service i n d i c a t e t h a t the costs reported
may be underestimated.
They f e e l t h a t r e p o r t e d
losses a r e m a i n l y due t o t y p e o f damage t h a t
a r e e a s i l y observed and f o r w h i c h a d o l l a r
v a l u e can be determined.
M i n o r impacts ( o f t e n
hard t o d i s t i n g u i s h f r o m normal wear and t e a r ) art
f i g u r e s compiled i n t h e R e c r e a t i o n I n f o r m a t i o n
Management System ( R I M ) , USDA F o r e s t S e r v i c e
R I M Center, Washington, D.C.
g e n e r a l l y n o t r e c o r d e d even though i n t o t a l
they represent a substantial cost t o r e p a i r o r
replace.
The a n a l y s i s o f v a n d a l i s m impacts from
o n l y an economic p e r s p e c t i v e u n d e r e s t i m a t e s t h e
t o t a l loss.
Perhaps even more s e r i o u s than t h e
f i n a n c i a l l o s s i n many p l a c e s i s t h e impact on
t h e q u a l i t y o f t h e r e c r e a t i o n environment,
w h i c h has d i r e c t b e a r i n g on r e c r e a t i o n i s t s '
experiences.
Some t a r g e t s f o r t h e vandal cannot be assigned a d o l l a r value.
Defacement o f n a t u r a l
f e a t u r e s , such as t r e e s , shrubs, and r o c k s ,
represents a serious l o s s i n environmental
Even more troublesome i s vandal ism
qua1 i t y .
o f i r r e p l a c e a b l e r e s o u r c e s such as c u l t u r a l o r
h i s t o r i c a l a r t i f a c t s , whether t h e y a r e p e t r o g l y p h s i n s o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a o r t h e famous
T l i n g i t totems i n s o u t h e a s t A l a s k a . We a l l
l o s e when these a r e d e s t r o y e d , b u t t h e l o s s
c a n n o t be measured i n an economic sense.
R e c r e a t i o n i s t s l o s e i n o t h e r ways when vand a l i s m o c c u r s . T h e i r r e c r e a t i o n e x p e r i e n c e may
be a f f e c t e d by t h e p h y s i c a l and v i s u a l d e s t r u c tion.
What i s n o t so o b v i o u s i s t h e impact on
t h e r e c r e a t i o n management program o f t h e agency
concerned ( ~ a r r i s o n1 9 7 6 ) ~ For
~ example, a l though t h e d o l l a r l o s s f r o m v a n d a l i s m may be
i n s i g n i f i c a n t compared w i t h t h e t o t a l investment
i n r e c r e a t i o n a r e a s and f a c i l i t i e s , v a n d a l i s m
and l i t t e r i n g c o s t s on N a t i o n a l F o r e s t s i n 1974
r e p r e s e n t e d o v e r 15 p e r c e n t o f t h e t o t a l F o r e s t
S e r v i c e r e c r e a t i o n management and c o n s t r u c t i o n
budget . 4 The c o s t s r e s u l t i n g f r o m vandal ism may
d i r e c t l y a f f e c t u s e r s when s c a r c e budgets f o r
r e c r e a t i o n must b e used t o r e p l a c e o r r e p a i r
f a c i l i t i e s r a t h e r t h a n t o b u i l d new ones o r h i r e
a d d i t i o n a l r a n g e r s f o r pub1 i c s e r v i c e .
For example, t h e $1.5 m i l l i o n spent on l i t t e r i n g and
v a n d a l i s m i n C a l i f o r n i a f o r e s t s i n 1974 r e p r e s e n t s t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f b u i l d i n g a b o u t 750 new
camping o r p i c n i c s i t e s . 5 No wonder r e c r e a t i o n
3 ~ e ea l s o John Z e i s e l , 1974. P l a n n i n g f a c i l i t i e s t o d i s c o u r a g e vandal ism. American Associat i o n o f School A d m i n i s t r a t o r s , 1 0 6 t h Annual Conv e n t i o n , Feb. 22-24.
1975. Cy 1974,
" ~ e ~ o r t e idn W i I 1 iam T. Schl i c k .
v a n d a l i s m and l i t t e r i n a on t h e N a t i o n a l F o r e s t
System. U n p u b l i s h e d r e p o r t , USDA F o r e s t S e r v i c e ,
Washington, D.C.
<
r e p o r t e d i n t h e U.S. F o r e s t S e r v i c e Dai ly News
D i g e s t , August 15, 1975. T h i s e s t i m a t e i s based
on t h e assumption t h a t new s i t e s c o s t $2 ,000
each.
For some t y p e s o f s i t e s t h e c o s t s may be
n e a r e r $4,000 p e r s i t e .
managers c r i n g e a t e v e r y i n i t i a l c a r v e d i n a
bench, w r i t t e n on a r e s t r o o m w a l l , o r s p r a y
p a i n t e d on a r o c k b l u f f .
THE LITERATURE ON VANDALISM
For a l l t h e money s p e n t on r e p a i r i n g o r
replacing vandalized f a c i l i t i e s o r natural
f e a t u r e s o f t h e environment, l i t t l e w r i t t e n
i n f o r m a t i o n e x i s t s a b o u t vandalism.
Our
knowledge o f why v a n d a l i s m o c c u r s o r how i t
can be c o n t r o l l e d i s v e r y l i m i t e d .
I have
reviewed much o f what i s a v a i l a b l e , and t h e s e
comments a r e focused p r i m a r i l y on t h e u s e f u l ness o f t h e l i t e r a t u r e f r o m a p r a c t i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e ; t h a t i s , does i t h e l p us u n d e r s t a n d
and t h e r e f o r e c o n t r o l t h e problem?
The l i t e r a t u r e on v a n d a l i s m can be d i v i d e d
i n t o two g e n e r a l c a t e g o r i e s , t h a t w h i c h i s
s u p p o r t e d by d a t a ( r e s e a r c h ) and t h a t w h i c h i s
n o t . The u s e f u l n e s s o f each t y p e i s b r i e f l y
described here.
L i t e r a t u r e Not Based on Data
R h e t o r i c o r opinion--Much o f what has
been w r i t t e n about v a n d a l i s m i s no more than
r h e t o r i c o r ~ p i n i o n . ~S uch p o p u l a r a r t i c l e s ,
books, and even e d i t o r i a l s seem t o have a
l a r g e market and a r e f i l l e d w i t h o u t r a g e , i n d i g n a t i o n , and d i v e r s i t y o f u n t e s t e d o p i n i o n s
about why v a n d a l i s m happens and what s h o u l d be
done t o c o n t r o l t h e problem. Any " e v a l u a t i o n "
o f what works i s o f t e n s u b j e c t i v e , and most o f
t h e p o p u l a r w r i t i n g focuses on s e l l i n g t h e
author's pet theories. Rhetorical discussions
g e n e r a l 1 y c o n c e n t r a t e on s p e c t a c u l a r a c t s and
o f t e n ignore e q u a l l y important smaller vandalism problems. Beyond c a l l i n g o u r a t t e n t i o n t o
t h e problem (a w o r t h y o b j e c t i v e ) , such m a t e r i a l
has l i t t l e t o o f f e r t h e manager and may even be
m i s l e a d i n g and dangerous i f t h e many unsubstant i a t e d suggestions a r e taken s e r i o u s l y .
Theoretical discussions--Another c l a s s o f
l i t e r a t u r e , a l t h o u q- h n o t s u p p o r t e d by d a t a ,
approaches vandal ism f r o m a more l o g i c a l , t h e o r e t i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e . Only a few a t t e m p t s have
been made t o v e r i f y t h e o r i e s w i t h d a t a (Bates
and McJunkins 1962, Bates 1962; Goldman ( 1 9 6 1 ) .
The w r i t i n g s t h a t f a l l under t h i s g e n e r a l headi n g a r e commonly found i n t e x t b o o k s o r academic
journals.
U s u a l l y t h e a u t h o r d e s c r i b e s o r dev e l o p s a p a r t i c u l a r t h e o r e t i c a l l i n e o f reasoni n g f o r e x p l a i n i n g why vandal i sm o c c u r s ( f o r
o or
examples o f 1 i t e r a t u r e c o n t a i n i n g p r i m a r i l y r h e t o r i c o r o p i n i o n , see Anonymous (19671,
Bennett (1969), C a r d i n e l l (1974), Donahue (1968),
Mannheim (1954), Nei 1 l ( 1 9 7 4 ) , Robarge (1965) ,
Von Kronenberger (1976).
example, aggression, f r u s t r a t i o n , h o s t i l i t y )
and/or how i t can be solved (Bower 1954,
C l i n a r d and Wade 1958, Cohen 1971 , L i ppman
1954). A1 though most papers o f t h i s type a r e
devoted t o a s i n g l e p e r s p e c t i v e , a few have
attempted t o analyze competing e x p l a n a t i o n s
( J e f f e r y 1971, Ward 1973). Most o f t h e s o l u t i o n s f o r c o n t r o l l i n g vandalism proposed i n
t h e o r e t i c a l d i s c u s s i o n s a r e l o g i c a l extensions
o f the a u t h o r ' s p a r t i c u l a r t h e o r e t i c a l perspect i v e . As such, they a r e o n l y as good as t h e
theory, and most must be judged as u n r e l i a b l e
on those grounds alone; t h a t i s , they have n o t
been t e s t e d .
Some suggested s o l u t i o n s a r e
described l a t e r .
Research-based L i t e r a t u r e
Discussions f a l l i n g i n t o t h i s category
imply t h a t r e l i a b l e data support the conclusions
drawn by t h e a u t h o r . O b j e c t i v i t y i s a key concept, although theoretical perspectives usually
p l a y an e s s e n t i a l r o l e i n d e s i g n i n g the research
and/or i n t e r p r e t i n g t h e f i n d i n g s from a study.
There a r e two general types o f research-based
a r t i c l e s , d e s c r i p t i v e and e v a l u a t i v e .
---Descriptive
studies
a r e t h e most common type o f research on vandalism. Questions about the n a t u r e o f t h e vandalism problem, who i s i n v o l v e d , when and where
vandalism occurs, and how much e x i s t s have been
addressed i n s e v e r a l s t u d i e s 7 (Campbel l and
o t h e r s 1968, C l a r k and o t h e r s 1971a, 1971b;
Cardenuto and McCrea [n .d.] ; Cardinel I 1969;
David 1971; Fandt 1961; Mannheim 1954; M a r t i n
1959; Matthews 1970; Perk and A l d r i c h 1972).
T h i s type o f i n f o r m a t i o n i s a s t a r t i n g p o i n t and
e s s e n t i a l t o e s t a b l i s h i n g a b a s e l i n e f o r times e r i e s s t u d i e s i f t h e work i s w e l l done.
Unf o r t u n a t e l y , most o f t h i s type o f research has
been based on r e p o r t e d r a t h e r than observed
behavior, and what i s r e p o r t e d i s o f t e n u n r e l i a b l e . Only a few s t u d i e s r e p o r t d i r e c t observat i o n o f t h e problem ( f o r example, C l a r k and
o t h e r s l 9 7 1 a ) . Most ignore t h e many s m a l l e r
a c t s o f vandal ism.
D e s c r i p t i v e research i s
an e s s e n t i a l f i r s t stage i n understanding and
thereby c o n t r o l l i n g vandalism; b u t i n t h e absence o f f u r t h e r e v a l u a t i v e research, i t r e a l l y
d o e s n ' t d i r e c t l y h e l p c o n t r o l t h e problem.
E v a l u a t i v e research--This type o f research
i n v o l v e s e x p l i c i t e v a l u a t i o n o f the e f f e c t i v e ness o f s p e c i f i c programs o r s t r a t e g i e s f o r cont r o l l i n g vandalism. The experimental demonstrat i o n o f cause and e f f e c t a l l o w s t h e manager and
researcher t o e s t a b l i s h what r e a l l y works and
7 ~ a u lP e t t y
1966. Vandalism. Taken from h i s t h e s i s ,
"Vandalism i n N a t u r a l F o r e s t s and Parks."
Colorado S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y .
what d o e s n ' t . As such, t h i s research p r o vides the s i n g l e most important type o f i n f o r mation from t h e manager's p e r s p e c t i v e because
he i s t r y i n g t o c o n t r o l the problem. But t h i s
type o f study i s v i r t u a l l y n o n e x i s t e n t f o r vandalism. Only one source c o u l d be found where
an o b j e c t i v e e v a l u a t i o n had been conducted; i n
t h i s case, the author demonstrated t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f a community education program ( P a l mer 1975). O f t e n the " e v a l u a t i o n " o f what works
and what does n o t i s based on s u b j e c t i v e c r i t e r i a ; t h a t i s , i t " r e p o r t e d l y " worked somewhere ( I r w i n 1975, Knudsen 1967b. M a r t i n 1959,
Wilson 1964). Consequently, what r e a l l y works
and what doesn't--when, where, and why--is
impossible t o say. We j u s t d o n ' t know. More
e v a l u a t i v e s t u d i e s by managers as we11 as r e searchers a r e necessary t o p r o v i d e important
answers t h a t can h e l p reduce vandalism i n a
variety o f settings.
Guidelines f o r Using t h e L i t e r a t u r e
The watchword i n u s i n g t h e l it e r a t u r e on
I f the content o f a r vandalism i s "caution."
t i c l e s o r books c o u l d be e a s i l y c l a s s i f i e d i n t o
the c a t e g o r i e s I ' v e described, then e v a l u a t i n g
t h e i r w o r t h from a p r a c t i c a l p e r s p e c t i v e might
be r e l a t i v e l y easy.
But many papers c o n t a i n
elements o f a l l types, making i t d i f f i c u l t t o
separate f a c t from f i c t i o n from f o l k l o r e .
The buyer must t r u l y be c a u t i o u s when i t
comes t o f i n d i n g a s o l u t i o n f o r vandalism i n
the l i t e r a t u r e .
Even when a s o l u t i o n seems
t o work i n one case, i t w o n ' t n e c e s s a r i l y work
everywhere. V a r i a t i o n from s i t u a t i o n t o s i t u a t i o n r e q u i r e s some e v a l u a t i o n t o t e s t the
e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f proposed c o n t r o l procedures.
A u s e f u l approach f o r u s i n g l i t e r a t u r e
i s t o i d e n t i f y a l l the u n s u b s t a n t i a t e d c l a i m s
made by t h e a u t h o r . Much o f what i s w r i t t e n
i s n o t supported by f a c t , and a g r e a t deal i s
n o t even supported by r a t i o n a l arguments.
Even papers w i t h "data" must be viewed
w i t h c a u t i o n . The work may be m i s l e a d i n g i f
the problem under study i s couched i n d i f f e r e n t terms from yours, o r i t may be based on
p o o r l y conceived research.
I n t e r p r e t the
data y o u r s e l f t o see i f you agree w i t h the
author. Would you i n v e s t your money i n a
program t o stop vandalism based on what y o u ' v e
read and the s o l u t i o n s proposed? I f n o t ,
keep l o o k i n g !
I S S U E S RELATED TO VANDALISM
Two issues commonly discussed i n t h e
l i t e r a t u r e have important p r a c t i c a l i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r understanding vandalism and thereby
reducing i t s impacts: What vandalism i s and
what causes i t .
D e f i n i t i o n s o f vandalism--a g r e a t d e a l o f
c o n f u s i o n e x i s t s c o n c e r n i n q what vandalism r e a l l y i s ( C l a r k and o t h e r s 1971b, Cohen 1968, E l i o t
1954, H a r r i s o n 1976, Smith 1966, Ward 1973, and
W i l s o n 1964).8 A l t h o u g h t h e r e i s 1 i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e o f o p i n i o n about t h e m a j o r a c t s o f
d e s t r u c t i o n , c o n s i d e r a b l e d i f f e r e n c e s do seem
t o e x i s t c o n c e r n i n g some a c t i o n s i n r e c r e a t i o n
settings.
1968b, E l i o t 1954, and Ward 1973).1Â U s u a l l y a
reason can be found f o r vandal ism; f o r example,
p l a y , l a c k o f a l t e r n a t i v e s , v i n d i c t i v e n e s s (Cohen
1968c, Madison 1970, Ward 1973).
And, a l t h o u g h
v a n d a l i s m w i t h a reason behind i t i s s t i l l inapp r o p r i a t e , understanding the underlying motives
and causes i s i m p o r t a n t i n i t s e v e n t u a l c o n t r o l .
Education
What i s "proper" b e h a v i o r i s n o t c l e a r l y
d e f i n e d ; many times an a c t o f v a n d a l i s m as
A common approach proposed f o r c o n t r o l
d e f i n e d b y a manager may be v e r y a p p r o p r i a t e
o f vandal ism i s t o educate t h e pub1 i c ( r e c r e a f r o m a user p e r s p e c t i v e .
I n some cases, r e c t i o n users i n t h i s case) about vandal ism; t h a t
r e a t i o n i s t s who have l i t t l e c o n t a c t w i t h t h e
i s , make them aware o f why i t i s bad and t h e
environment may r e a l l y n o t know what i s d e f i n e d
need f o r t h e i r h e l p i n s o l v i n g t h e problem.
a s v a n d a l i s m b y managers.
I n o t h e r cases they
T r a d i t i o n a l e d u c a t i o n a l programs have focused
may know b u t d i s a g r e e .
Examples i n c l u d e throwon i n s t i l l i n g p r o p e r v a l u e s and a t t i t u d e s r e i n g axes i n t o t r e e s , c a r v i n g on t a b l e s and
g a r d i n g vandalism. The b a s i c assumption i s t h a t
benches, chopping down t r e e s i n campgrounds f o r
p r o p e r b e h a v i o r w i l l then r e s u l t ; people w o n ' t
f i r e w o o d o r f o r more space.
Even though r u l e s
- v a n d a l i z e o r l e t v a n d a l i s m o c c u r . Much evidence,
e x i s t w h i c h p r o h i b i t such a c t i v i t i e s , t h e f a c t
however, suggests t h a t a t t i t u d e s about an i s s u e
t h a t u s e r s d o n ' t understand o r agree w i t h them
o r problem may be d i f f e r e n t f r o m o n e ' s b e h a v i o r .
may r e s u l t i n v a n d a l i s m b y d e f i n i t i o n o n l y .
For example, a t t i t u d e s r e g a r d i n g l i t t e r i n g have
C o n s i d e r a b l e r e s e a r c h has documented t h i s
been shown t o be v e r y d i f f e r e n t f r o m a c t u a l
d i f f e r e n c e i n p e r s p e c t i v e between r e c r e a t i o n
l i t t e r i n g behavior--we may b e l i e v e i t ' s bad b u t
managers and u s e r s ( C l a r k and o t h e r s l971b;
l
i t t e r anyway ( d a r k and o t h e r s 1972, H e b e r l e i n
Understanding
Hendee and Campbe I 1 1969)
1971).
the basis f o r t h i s d i f f e r e n c e i s e s s e n t i a l
f o r any approach t o c o n t r o l l i n g t h e problem.
I n r e v i e w o f t h e s o c i o l o g y l i t e r a t u r e on
For t h i s d i s c u s s i o n , vandal ism i s t h e r e s u l t
r e s e a r c h c o n c e r n i n g a t t i t u d e s and b e h a v i o r ,
o f any a c t ( i n t e n t i o n a l o r u n i n t e n t i o n a l )
W i c k l e r (1969) concluded t h a t o n l y about 10
w h i c h damages e i t h e r n a t u r a l o r manmade f e a t u r e s
percent o f the v a r i a t i o n i n actual behavior
o f t h e environment.
c o u l d be e x p l a i n e d by knowledge o f a t t i t u d e s !
The b a s i c reason f o r t h e d i s c r e p a n c y i s t h a t
M o t i v e s f o r and causes o f vandalism-many f a c t o r s a r e r e l a t e d t o a c t u a l b e h a v i o r
Understanding t h e m o t i v e s f o r and causes o f
i n addition t o attitudes, especially features
v a n d a l i s m i s an i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f c o n t r o l l i n g
t
h a t v a r y f r o m one s i t u a t i o n t o a n o t h e r and
t h e problem, and many a u t h o r s have d e a l t w i t h
make d i f f e r e n t b e h a v i o r s a t t r a c t i v e o r a v a i l these t o p i c s ( C l a r k and o t h e r s 197Ib, H a r r i s o n
a b l e . The s o c i a l group one i s w i t h , f o r example,
1976, Hendee and Campbell 1969, E l i o t 1954,
can e i t h e r i n c r e a s e o r decrease t h e l i k e l i h o o d
J e f f e r y 1971, Murphy 1954, Perk and A l d r i c h
o f a c t s l e a d i n g t o vandalism.
Therefore, i n
1972, S c o t t 1954, S c h a f f e r 1975, and Ward
terms o f t h e problem f a c i n g managers o f r e c r e a 1973) . 9 But t h e r e i s no proven t h e o r y o f t h e
t i o n areas, t h i s e d u c a t i o n a l approach has
causes o f vandalism.
Many t h e o r i e s o r ' p e r l i m i t e d p o t e n t i a l f o r s o l v i n g the vandalism
s p e c t i v e s a t t e m p t t o e x p l a i n t h e problem from
problem
s i n c e w e ' r e p r i m a r i l y concerned about
b i o l o g i c a l , psychological, o r sociological
behavior.
I f Wicker's conclusions are val i d
perspectives.
No one t h a t I know o f has t r i e d
as a p p l i e d t o vandalism, t r a d i t i o n a l educat o i n t e g r a t e these approaches, and most a u t h o r s
t i o n ( f o c u s i n g on a t t i t u d e s and v a l u e s ) would
ignore the extremely important-effects t h a t
r e s u l t i n no more than a l o p e r c e n t r e d u c t i o n
t h e environment and s p e c i f i c s i t u a t i o n s p l a y
i n v a n d a l i s t i c b e h a v i o r , even i f t h e t a r g e t s
i n e x p l a i n i n g vandal ism ( J e f f e r y 1971). One
p e r s p e c t i v e i n h e r e n t i n many o f t h e d i s c u s s i o n s o f m o t i v e s o r causes w a r r a n t s comment
h e r e . A l t h o u g h many p e o p l e f a i 1 t o r e c o g n i z e
losee footnote 3
any r a t i o n a l e b e h i n d vandal i s t i c a c t s ( t h e y
a r e o f t e n t h o u g h t o f as s t r i c t l y a wanton,
^ ~ o l u t i o n s t o vandalism a r e d i s c u s s e d by
m a l i c i o u s a c t i v i t y ) , s e v e r a l w r i t e r s have
Anonymous (1 967, l973a, 1973b, 1973c) , B e n n e t t
argued t h a t t h i s i s n o t so (Campbell and
(1969), Cardenuto and McCrea ( n . d . ) , I r w i n
o t h e r s 1968, C l a r k and o t h e r s 1971b, Cohen
(19751, Kel l y (19731, Knudsen (1967a, 1967b) ,
M a r t i n (1959), Matthews ( 1 9 7 0 ) , N e i l 1 (1975)
P e t t y (19661, Ward (19731, Weinmayer (19731,
^See f o o t n o t e 3.
and Wilson (1964).
( A l s o see f o o t n o t e 3 ) .
.
^ee
f o o t n o t e 3.
f o r t h e e d u c a t i o n a l programs a r e p o t e n t i a l
vandals and t h e intended a t t i t u d e s and
values a r e generated by t h e program. Cohen
(1968a) even t h i n k s t h a t pub1 i c i t y about a
problem may b a c k f i r e ; i t may even e l i c i t
problem behaviors.
For example, p u b l i c i z i n g
a campaign t o remove g r a f f i t i from rock w a l l s
i n a r e c r e a t i o n area i d e n t i f i e s a t a r g e t f o r
f u t u r e vandalism:
"Wouldn't i t be fun t o
spray p a i n t t h e same w a l l t h e day a f t e r t h e
c l e a n i n g crew leaves!"
Regardless o f t h e approach used i n educat i o n a l programs, some general r u l e s o f thumb
may make them more e f f e c t i v e :
1 . An e f f e c t i v e educational program w i l l
r e q u i r e t h a t t h e manager understand user mot i v e s and d e s i r e s . Considerable evidence
suggests t h a t managers and users o f t e n d i s agree on what i s a p p r o p r i a t e , i n c l u d i n g t h i n g s
which a r e l a b e l e d as vandalism by managers
( C l a r k and others l971b, Hendee and Campbell
(1969). Managers a r e o f t e n m i s l e d when they
i n t e r p r e t user motives and d e s i r e s by t h e i r
own value systems.
I d e n t i f y i n g areas o f d i s agreement (and reasons f o r them) i s an import a n t s t a r t i n g p o i n t f o r understanding t h e
problem and developing e f f e c t i v e educational
programs.
2 . Users must a l s o understand the mana g e r ' s motives. Managers o f t e n f o r g e t t h a t
they may be p a r t o f t h e problem. Both i n d i v i d u a l and o r g a n i z a t i o n a l a t t i t u d e s (and behaviors)
a r e important and may have an impact on u s e r s '
p e r c e p t i o n s and behavior. A t t i t u d e s about
r e c r e a t i o n i n general ( i s i t l e g i t i m a t e o r
n o t ? ) and toward s p e c i f i c users ( m o t o r c y c l i s t s ,
h i k e r s , e t c . ) a f f e c t o u r behavior i n ways t h a t
may e i t h e r reduce o r increase problems. Do
you f a v o r "hard o r s o f t s e l l approaches"; t h a t
i s , educate o r a r r e s t ? Do you ignore minor
a c t s o f vandal ism (or o t h e r problems)? I f so,
you may be condoning t h e problem i n t h e u s e r ' s
mind.
D i v i s i o n o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s on a funct i o n a l b a s i s w i t h i n an agency can r e s u l t i n a
d i s a s t r o u s s i t u a t i o n i f , f o r example, patrolmen
r e s p o n s i b l e on1 y f o r f i r e prevent i o n ignore
o t h e r r e c r e a t i o n - r e l a t e d problems i n t h e i r
areas. The p u b l i c may be m i s l e d by agency beh a v i o r i f i n a p p r o p r i a t e a c t s a r e ignored i n
one case b u t acted upon i n another.
Different
management p o l i c i e s between agencies f u r t h e r
confuse and f r u s t r a t e users.
Many w e l l - i n t e n t i o n e d attempts by managers
t o h e l p s o l v e important problems may r e s u l t i n
vandalism.
T h i s o f t e n happens when management
a c t i o n s c o n f l i c t w i t h user goals.
For example,
roads a r e o f t e n closed f o r l a c k o f maintenance
budgets, concern over e r o s i o n , f i r e hazard, e t c .
Gates o r signs which a r e an attempt t o implement
t h e manager's d e c i s i o n s a r e t o r n down, shot up
o r d r i v e n around, o f t e n damaging n a t u r a l environmental f e a t u r e s . Why? Perhaps i n some
cases t h i s vandalism occurs n o t f o r i t s own
sake b u t t o a l l o w the "vandal" t o achieve
some o t h e r g o a l - - g e t t i n g t o a f a v o r i t e l a k e
o r campsite, f o r example.
Publ i c campgrounds
a r e o f t e n closed e n t i r e l y o r i n p a r t d u r i n g
the "off-season" t o save scarce r e c r e a t i o n
management d o l l a r s , a worthy o b j e c t i v e .
But
vandalism ( o r a t a minimum, extreme f r u s t r a t i o n )
can occur f o r some users when they f e e l conf i n e d and crowded w i t h o u t apparent reason i n
c e r t a i n areas n o t t o t h e i r l i k i n g o r when a
f a v o r i t e , more i s o l a t e d s i t e may be j u s t beyond a gate o r s i g n over a b a r r i e r p o s t o r
p i l e o f d i r t . Who i s g u i l t y ? C e r t a i n l y we
cannot excuse the vandalism, b u t understandi n g why i t happens may h e l p us i d e n t i f y cond i t i o n s where management a c t i o n s can l e a d t o
vandalism.
We need t o c o n t i n u e t o ask why we a r e
doing what we do and w i l l i t make sense and
be agreeable t o users. C o n f l i c t i n g g o a l s and
values must be i d e n t i f i e d and e f f e c t i v e twoway communication and education i n i t i a t e d
t o minimize t h e impacts from such disagreement.
3. Attempts t o c o n t r o l vandalism o r
o t h e r problems w i t h messages l a c k i n g r a t i o n a l e
a r e o f t e n doomed t o f a i l .
I f people d o n ' t
understand the "why" behind the d o ' s and
d o n t ' s conveyed i n s i g n s , vandalism can r e s u l t .
Why c a n ' t cars be d r i v e n o f f p a r k i n g
pads?
Why can' t t a b l e s be moved (even when
chained down)?
Why c a n ' t more than one f a m i l y camp
a t each campsite?
Why c a n ' t a t r e e be chopped down f o r
firewood o r t o g e t a p i c k u p camper
into a site?
Why c a n ' t i n i t i a l s be carved on benches
o r tables o r trees?
Signs ( o r o t h e r communication mediums) should
convey the reason f o r t h e r e g u l a t i o n whenever
p o s s i b l e . Such " p o s i t i v e s i g n i n g " would, I
t h i n k , h e l p e l i m i n a t e some vandalism i n many
areas.
C e r t a i n l y , e f f e c t i v e enforcement p r o cedures w i l l s t i l l be necessary f o r people
who ignore t h e most r a t i o n a l r u l e s .
D i r e c t Management
A v a r i e t y o f ways e x i s t f o r d i r e c t l y
managing a'reas, f a c i 1 i t i e s , o r n a t u r a l e n v i ronmental f e a t u r e s t o reduce o r prevent vandalism.
Some o f these approaches have been covered i n
o t h e r sympbsium papers, and I w i l l o n l y b r i e f l y review them here.
Design o f s i t e s o r f a c i l i t i e s - - C o n s i d e r a b l e e f f o r t has been expended t o design vandalp r o o f s i t e s . Much has been w r i t t e n about t h i s
t o p i c (Anonymous l973c, M i l l e r 1973, Spalding
1971, Weinmayer 1973).
A1 though t h e r e have
been many successes (Weinmayer b e l i e v e s proper
design can reduce vandal ism by 90 percent) my
impression i s t h a t we o f t e n f a i l i n t h i s approach. Many times i t seems t h a t when a part i c u l a r type o f v a n d a l i s t i c a c t i s prevented
through design, another u n a n t i c i p a t e d problem
r e s u l t s . For example, i n a campground I recentl y v i s i t e d , restroom w a l l s i n the area were
made o f m a t e r i a l harder than k n i f e blades t o
prevent vandalism.
Indeed, c a r v i n g and scratchi n g w i t h k n i v e s was e l i m i n a t e d . But the problem
was n o t solved because the n a t i v e rock i n the
area was harder than the c o n s t r u c t i o n m a t e r i a l ,
and c a r v i n g and s c r a t c h i n g w i t h r o c k r e s u l t e d .
Although design may be an important element i n
p r e v e n t i n g some vandalism, l i t t l e evidence
e x i s t s f o r a f o o l p r o o f s o l u t i o n through design.
New ideas emerge d a i l y , b u t many have n o t been
evaluated f o r t h e i r e f f e c t i v e n e s s i n d i f f e r e n t
locations.
,
M a i n t e n a n c e ~ R e p l a c i n go r r e p a i r i n g t h e
evidence o f vandalism as q u i c k l y as i t occurs
i s proposed as another s t r a t e g y f o r s o l v i n g the
problem. The assumption i s t h a t by keeping the
area n i c e i t w i l l s t a y t h a t way. A g r e a t deal
o f f o l k l o r e e x i s t s about t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f
t h i s procedure, b u t l i t t l e has been v e r i f i e d .
To the e x t e n t t h a t t h e problem continues (which
i t o f t e n does) maintenance i s n o t a complete
s o l u t i o n . We o f t e n have t o " r e - r e p a i r" ( c a r denuto and McCrea n.d.).
Perhaps vandalism
may be reduced t o some e x t e n t by maintenance,
b u t the evidence a v a i l a b l e does n o t a l l o w a
c l e a r c u t answer f o r every case.
Fees--Some managers b e l i e v e vandalism and
o t h e r problems such as l i t t e r i n g a r e reduced
when fees a r e charged. The b e l i e f i s t h a t users
tend t o have more a t s t a k e and g r e a t e r f e e l i n g s
o f ownership i n an area where they pay t o s t a y .
An a l t e r n a t i v e view i s t h a t when fees a r e
charged, users may f e e l they have more r i g h t t o
There i s no r e l i a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n
' t e a r i t up."
t o support o r r e f u t e e i t h e r v i e w p o i n t .
U.S.
Forest Service f i g u r e s indicate that costs f o r
vandalism and l i t t e r i n g i n the N a t i o n a l Forests
were g r e a t e r per user i n areas where fees were
charged. l 2 However, reasons o t h e r than the fee
i t s e l f may e x p l a i n t h i s d i f f e r e n c e : Some Fore s t S e r v i c e managers f e e l t h a t these data undere s t i m a t e the t r u e c o s t from vandalism, perhaps
more i n one type o f area than another; more
people general l y use f e e areas; fee areas gene r a l l y have more f a c i l i t i e s t o be vandalized;
and the i n t r o d u c t i o n o f fees may a f f e c t the
type o f c l i e n t e l e an area r e c e i v e s . Other
u n i d e n t i f i e d f a c t o r s may a l s o be involved.
12see f o o t n o t e 2 .
Removal o f o p p o r t u n i t y - - E l i m i n a t i n g t h e
o p p o r t u n i t y f o r vandalism by removing f a c i l i t i e s , c l o s i n g areas, o r h i d i n g what can be
vandalized has been proposed as a s o l u t i o n
and i s done i n some places. We can take away
o r n o t p r o v i d e wooden posts, t a b l e s , restrooms,
signs, e t c . We can c l o s e access t o l a r g e areas
such as commercial o r p u b l i c f o r e s t s , and
we can c l o s e e n t r y t o s p e c i f i c areas by
b a r r i c a d i n g roads ( s u b j e c t t o problems discusO r we can h i d e v a l u a b l e o b j e c t s
sed e a r l i e r ) .
such as c u l t u r a l o r h i s t o r i c a l a r t i f a c t s .
In
general, t h i s approach w i l l work.
Indeed, i t ' s
about t h e most p r e d i c t a b l e s o l u t i o n a v a i l a b l e .
However, i n doing so, we must consider t h e
n e g a t i v e impacts on o t h e r users who a r e n o t
I f t h i s prescripr e s p o n s i b l e f o r the problem.
t i o n were f o l l o w e d i n areas w i t h major vandalism
problems, i n most cases, t h e m a j o r i t y o f w e l l i n t e n t i o n e d users would s u f f e r because o f a
r e l a t i v e l y few people.
I n t h e case o f i r r e placeable o b j e c t s such as h i s t o r i c a l a r t i f a c t s ,
perhaps we have no s o l u t i o n b u t t o remove o r
h i d e them u n t i l such t i m e as they can be p r o tected.
For o t h e r t h i n g s which can be replaced,
t h e r e l a t i v e advantage gained from t h i s remedy
i s not so e a s i l y a s c e r t a i n e d .
D e t e c t i o n and Enforcement
Increased d e t e c t i o n and s t r i c t enforcement
o f laws, p o l i c i e s , and r u l e s a r e o f t e n proposed
as a way t o d e t e r vandalism (Anonymous 1973a,
Thomas 1964). To be most e f f e c t i v e as a d e t e r r e n t , t h i s approach must r e s u l t i n punishment;
t h e p o t e n t i a l vandal must r e a l i z e he w i l l proba b l y be seen, caught, and punished ( J e f f e r y 1971)
U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h i s i s o f t e n n o t t h e case f o r
most crimes a g a i n s t the environment i n t h i s
c o u n t r y ( J e f f e r y 1971) and c e r t a i n l y n o t i n most
r e c r e a t i o n areas ( C l a r k and o t h e r s 1971a, 1971b)
This i s n o t t o say, however,that enforcement
programs a r e w o r t h l e s s , o n l y t h a t they a r e a
small p a r t o f the s o l u t i o n .
P o s s i b l e ways t o
increase the e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f d e t e c t i o n and
enforcement programs i n r e c r e a t i o n areas
i n c l u d e i n c r e a s i n g the number o f p a t r o l s , a d j u s t i n g p a t r o l m e n ' s hours ( o r those o f c o o p e r a t i n g
law enforcement agencies) t o match r e c r e a t i o n
use and problem times, h i r i n g watchmen (Matthews
1970), and e s t a b l i s h i n g entrance s t a t ions where
each p a r t y i s contacted and, perhaps, r e g i s t e r e d
i n p a r t i c u l a r l y bad areas.
.
P u b l i c Involvement
I n v o l v i n g the r e c r e a t i n g p u b l i c i n h e l p i n g
t o s o l v e vandalism i s a new approach which has
been r e c e n t l y proposed and used i n some areas.
A few authors have d e a l t w i t h t h i s approach
(Anonymous 1967, 1973b; C ? a r k and o t h e r s 1971a,
1971b; N e i l 1 1975; Ward 1973; Wilson 1964).
The focus i s t o f i n d ways t o change users' beh a v i o r t o reduce t h e i r own v a n d a l i s t i c a c t s as
w e l l as those o f o t h e r people.
Research on d e p r e c i a t i v e behavior, i n c l u d i n g vandalism i n outdoor r e c r e a t i o n s e t t i n g s ,
i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h i s approach has tremendous
p o t e n t i a l f o r r e d u c i n g t h e problem,
tn one
study n e a r l y 80 percent o f a l l d e p r e c i a t i v e
a c t s o c c u r r e d i n t h e presence o f o t h e r people,
y e t no one g o t i n v o l v e d ( C l a r k and others, 197Ia,
197Ib; Campbel l and o t h e r s , 1968). Why? Poss i b l e e x p l a n a t i o n s f o r t h e noninvolvement
i n c l u d e apathy, f e a r o r t h r e a t from g e t t i n g i n volved, l a c k o f agreement on t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f
what i s proper, and l a c k of knowledge about how
one can g e t i n v o l v e d . The p o i n t here i s t h a t
we c a n ' t assume people won't h e l p . There may
be t h i n g s we can do t o encourage t h e i r i n v o l v e ment w i t h o u t t h r e a t t o them.
A v a r i e t y o f ways can i n v o l v e people, depending on t h e o b j e c t i v e .
Some b a s i c assumpt i o n s and approaches a r e b r i e f l y described here.
I n v o l v e t h e v i c t i m ~ O np u b l i c r e c r e a t i o n
lands, t h e v i c t i m o f vandalism and o t h e r types
o f d e p r e c i a t i v e behavior i s t h e p u b l i c . Since
t h e research d e s c r i b e d above i n d i c a t e s t h a t
o f t e n people a r e present when these a c t s occur,
what can they do t o h e l p ? How can managers i n crease user involvement? A l t e r n a t i v e s range
from encouraging users t o handle problems thems e l v e s (and showing them how) t o c o n t a c t i n g
proper a u t h o r i t i e s and g i v i n g them e s s e n t i a l
i n f o r m a t i o n . Others advocate paying people f o r
i n f o r m a t i o n about vandals they observe.
Perhaps some s o r t o f "help t h e ranger" campaign
m i g h t encourage people t o h e l p reduce vandalism.
P a r t o f t h e s o l u t i o n c e r t a i n l y w i l l be t o dev e l o p procedures whereby t h e p u b l i c can get i n volved w i t h l i t t l e personal t h r e a t .
I n v o l v e t h e c u l p r i t - - T h e o b j e c t i v e here i s
t o p r o v i d e a c o n s t r u c t i v e a l t e r n a t i v e t o dest r u c t i v e b e h a v i o r . T h i s approach has been used
f o r b o t h a d u l t s and c h i l d r e n i n a v a r i e t y o f
areas.
I t seems t o work because i t givespeople
i n v o l v e d a stake i n t h e problem. For example, i n
response t o vandalism o f r e c r e a t i o n cabins duri n g t h e w i n t e r season by snowmobilers, t h e suspected c u l p r i t s were organized and asked t o h e l p
p r o t e c t t h e homes; they d i d and vandalism ceased.
Two boys i n a developed campground who were suspected o f v a n d a l i z i n g restrooms and n a t u r e t r a i l
s i g n s were i n v o l v e d i n a l i t t e r p i c k u p program
t o he1 p t h e campground ranger; vandal ism ceased12
^ ~ o ~ e N.
r Clark.
How t o c o n t r o l l i t t e r i n recr e a t i o n areas:
The i n c e n t i v e system.
I n prepa r a t i o n f o r p u b l i c a t i o n , P a c i f i c Northwest Fore s t and Range Experiment S t a t i o n , P o r t l a n d , Oreg.
( C l a r k and o t h e r s , 1972). And i n a f o r e s t e d
area i n Spain, youths suspected o f v a n d a l i z i n g
birdcages f o r p r o t e c t i n g c e r t a i n species were
i n v o l v e d i n c o n s t r u c t i n g new cages; vandalism
ceased, l 3 Other s tmi l a r management approaches
seem p o s s i b l e .
I n v o l v e people i n formal programs--The
two approaches described above focus on i n v o l v i n g people i n f o r m a l l y .
I n some cases,
programs f o r s p e c i f i c i n d i v i d u a l s assuming
some formal r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s may be u s e f u l .
Ind i v t d u a l s o r couples may be s e l e c t e d and t r a i n e d
t o perform some o f t h e d u t i e s o f agency personnel.
T h e i r presence i n problem areas can increase the
manager's v i s i b i l i t y and a l l o w one-to-one c o n t a c t s
w i t h users.
I n the West, a "campground host" program has
been implemented i n several areas. The v o l u n t e e r
hosts, u s u a l l y r e t i r e d married couples, l i v e on
campgrounds, and t h e i r presence i s r e p o r t e d t o
have decreased.vandalism problems. The p u b l i c has
e n t h u s i a s t i c a l l y supported t h i s e f f o r t , and many
people have volunteered t h e i r s e r v i c e s .
Other
problems have a l s o been reduced.
For example, i n
one U.S. Forest S e r v i c e l o c a t i o n where t h e host
program was i n e f f e c t , l o c a l managers i n d i c a t e d
t h a t as vandalism and o t h e r d e p r e c i a t i v e behaviors
decreased, v o l u n t a r y compliance i n t u r n i n g i n overn i g h t camping fees increased. Other formal l y est a b l i s h e d programs such as t h e "Older American''
program have been used i n o t h e r l o c a t i o n s f o r s i m i l a r purposes.
Although campground hosts u s u a l l y have no
formal enforcement a u t h o r i t y , they have been succ e s s f u l l y used when problems i n s e l e c t i n g approp r i a t e people a r e overcome.
I n A u s t r a l i a , formal
a u t h o r i t y has been g i v e n t o a ranger f o r c e made up
of c i t i z e n s , and some successes a r e r e p o r t e d . l 4
A p u b l i c involvement program should be focused
I t can i n c l u d e year-round
a t a variety o f levels.
involvement through organized groups as w e l l as
r o u t i n e , ongoing e f f o r t s d u r i n g t h e main recreat i o n season such as t h e campground host program.
The p u b l i c t h a t moves through t h e area and s t a y s
f o r s h o r t p e r i o d s o n l y should be involved.
So should
b o t h c u l p r i t s and v i c t i m s .
I d e n t i f y i n g and evaluat i n g ways t o accomplish p u b l i c involvement a t a l l of
these l e v e l s a r e important concerns f o r b o t h managers
and researchers.
"^personal communication w i t h A n t o n i o Nadal Amat.
Head o f t h e Department o f Environmental A n a l y s i s ,
Madrid, Spain.
^personal communication w i t h Al I a n Viney, member
f o r Wakehurst, L e g i s l a t i v e Assembly o f New South
Wales.
Sydney, N.S.W.
T r e a t Vandalism as a Cost o f Doing Business
RESEARCH ROLE AND NEEDS
A f i n a l approach t o vandal ism i s t o t r e a t
i t l i k e shoplifting:
We do a l l we can t o stop
i t , i n c l u d i n g proper design, maintenance, and
replacement; b u t we assume some w i l l occur and
charge the consumers (users) t h e r e s u l t i n g c o s t .
I n t h i s view, vandalism i s accepted as a f a c t ,
one o f t h e impacts from r e c r e a t i o n use.
Available s t a t i s t i c s indicate a r e l a t i v e l y small c o s t per v i s i t o r f o r vandalism i n o u t door r e c r e a t i o n areas.
On t h e N a t i o n a l Forests,
the average c o s t f o r vandalism and l i t t e r i n g
was approximate!
$0.03 t o $0.10 per v i s i t o r
day d u r i n g 1974.K6
Although many l e g a l and p o l i t i c a l problems
e x i s t , e s t a b l i s h i n g a user surcharge f o r vand a l i s m would i n s u r e t h a t o t h e r o p t i o n s a r e n o t
foregone i f t h e scarce r e c r e a t i o n management
budgets a r e used i n r e p a i r i n g o r r e p l a c i n g
damaged f a c i l i t i e s .
Such a surcharge would
make users c l e a r l y aware o f the f i n a n c i a l impact
o f vandal ism.
SUMMARY OF POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
FOR CONTROLLING VANDALISM
A v a r i e t y o f procedures f o r c o n t r o l l i n g
vandalism have been proposed and readers a r e
encouraged t o make t h e i r own judgment about
the r e l a t i v e advantages and disadvantages o f
each. My c o n c l u s i o n i s t h a t none o f t h e a l t e r n a t i v e s I ' v e described o f f e r s a complete sol u t i o n t o vandalism, problems a r e s t i l l i n creasing, and the l e v e l o f u n c e r t a i n t y f o r
complete success i n u s i n g any o f the approaches
i s h i g h . We d o n ' t know a t t h i s time what works
b e s t . when, where, how, o r why.
A g r e a t deal
o f f o l k l o r e e x i s t s about t h e "best approach,"
and many o f t h e a l t e r n a t i v e s may be c o s t l y and
r i s k y . But any long-range s o l u t i o n w i l l r e q u i r e a v a r i e t y o f approaches.
Prevent i o n programs should focus on the
v a r i o u s s o c i a l , p o l i t i c a l , and p h y s i c a l - e n v i ronmental f a c t o r s t o reduce v a n d a l i s t i c beh a v i o r and increase a n t i v a n d a l i s t i c behavior.
We know l i t t l e about how a l l the p o s s i b l e cont r o l l i n g f a c t o r s i n t e r a c t , and research i s
necessary t o i d e n t i f y t h e important f a c t o r s
and e v a l u a t e t h e i r r e l a t i v e advantages and
disadvantages i n a v a r i e t y o f c o n d i t i o n s .
-
Some vandal ism problems may be c o n t r o l
l a b l e , o t h e r s may n o t .
I n t h e absence o f severe r e s t r i c t i o n s on use and users, we may have
t o accept some forms o f vandalism because t h e
c o n t r o l s may be worse than the problems they
a r e meant t o solve.
^see
f o o t n o t e 2.
Several authors have recognized t h e need
f o r more research on vandal ism (MacNei 1 1954,
Palmer 19751, p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e need f o r evaluat i o n a avid 1971). To be maximally u s e f u l ,
research on vandalism and o t h e r forms o f dep r e c i a t i v e behavior would be based on c l o s e
communication and cooperation w i t h managers.
Researchers and managers b o t h l e a r n i n ongoing c o n s u l t a t i o n . Researchers must m a i n t a i n
c o n t a c t w i t h on-the-ground managers i n a v a r i e t y
o f areas t o i n s u r e an a p p r e c i a t i o n o f r e a l w o r l d problems.
An e f f e c t i v e research e f f o r t t o p r o v i d e
u s e f u l i n f o r m a t i o n f o r understanding and cont r o l l i n g vandalism should be based on a broad
l e v e l i n v o l v i n g several regions o f t h e c o u n t r y
and v a r i o u s agencies and p r i v a t e land managers.
T h i s w i l l a l l o w f o r a n a l y s i s o f both common
and unique problems.
But we a l s o need t o focus
on s p e c i f i c s i t u a t i o n s t o c o n t r o l s p e c i f i c
problems. Although d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f vandali s t i c a c t s and r e c r e a t i o n areas a r e s i m i l a r ,
much v a r i a t i o n e x i s t s t h a t may a f f e c t t h e usef u l n e s s o f "proven" s o l u t i o n s i n one area when
a p p l i e d i n another.
An important need i s establishment and
implementation o f procedures f o r o b j e c t i v e l y
i d e n t i f y i n g and measuring t h e impacts ( p h y s i c a l ,
as we1 1 as those on t h e u s e r s ' experience) from
vandalism & o t h e r
d e p r e c i a t i v e behaviors.
Good d e s c r i p t i v e b a s e l i n e data are e s s e n t i a l
f o r e v a l u a t i n g the e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f procedures
t o c o n t r o l t h e problem.
Another need i s development o f an understanding o f the dynamics o f s p e c i f i c l o c a t i o n s
(and s i t e s ) and the needs and behaviors o f
s p e c i f i c user groups as r e l a t e d t o vandalism
and o t h e r problems. We must design, t e s t , and
evaluate programs t o f i t the needs o f s p e c i f i c
areas and users o f those areas.
CONCLUSION:
A CHANGE IN ORIENTATION I S NEEDED
I n t h e absence o f any d e f i n i t i v e s o l u t i o n s ,
what can planners and managers do t o minimize t h e
vandalism problem? Although no one has t h e ent i r e answer t o t h i s question, I want t o o f f e r
my p e r s p e c t i v e on several important p o i n t s .
The vandalism problem should n o t be cons i d e r e d s e p a r a t e l y from o t h e r d e p r e c i a t i v e
behaviors such as nuisance behavior, r u l e v i o l a t i o n , and l i t t e r i n g . The causes f o r and
s o l u t i o n s t o these o t h e r problems may h o l d imThe campp o r t a n t c l u e s f o r reducing vandalism.
ground host program, f o r example, demonstrates
the impact one procedure may have on a v a r i e t y
o f problems i n c l u d i n g vandalism.
Past research
on litter control indicates that by involving the public in control of litter, vandalism and other problems may decline. We need to develop a program that inte- grates a variety of approaches (Jeffery 1971, Harrison 1976, Weiss 1974). There is no single best answer now and there probably never will be a blanket solution without considering others (Wilson 1964). A1 1 the procedures des- cribed in this and other papers in this sym- posium should be objectively evaluated for their usefulness. And a variety of perspectives must be con- sidered to understand and control vandalism. This includes the social scientist's (psycholo- gist, sociologist, etc.), the designer's the manager's, the planner's, and, most important, the user's perspectives. Above all, it is important when faced with a problem as tough as vandalism to keep a pos- itive attitude. There are no magic answers (~arrison1976). The problem isn't going to go away, and the danger is that the manager will become so frustrated with day-to-day problems that he will deal ineffectively with recreation- ists who nay not recognize the magnitude of the problem. Recreation is legitimate and worth- while, but it has impacts and costs like all other resource uses. Literature Cited Anonymous 1967. Wreckreation: what can teenagers do about vandalism? Senior Scholastic, May 12, p. 21-23. Anonymous 1973a. Four alternatives for school security-- a counterattack on vandalism. Am. School and Univ. 45(10):43-44. Bennett, Joseph W. 1969. Vandals wild. 238 p.
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