http://www.sacsheriff.com/crime_prevention/documents/juvenile_crimes_01.cfm
Graffiti
From obscene and violent language scrawled on a public bathroom door to elaborate murals on a
brick wall, graffiti appears in many forms. But it's all the same, if it's not on the artist's property
— it's vandalism, and it's a crime. Graffiti is often the first sign that gangs are taking over a
neighborhood. Gangs' "taggers" act as messengers for the gang, use graffiti to mark their turf,
advertise their exploits, and challenge or threaten rival gangs. Graffiti gives criminals the
impression that residents don't care about their neighborhood, and a neighborhood that doesn't
care is an easy target for crime. Don't let this happen to your neighborhood — take a stand
against graffiti and make sure graffiti is removed as soon as it appears. It takes persistence, but
by working with law enforcement and other residents, you can keep your neighborhood clean
and the effects of vandalism to a minimum.
The Price We Pay
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Schools pay millions of dollars each year to clean up graffiti, repair buildings, and
replace vandalized equipment. That's money that could be used to buy better sports
equipment or new computers.
Local governments (and taxpayers — your parents, your neighbors, and even yourselves)
pay the bills for broken street lights, stolen signs, and vandalized parks. We pay higher
taxes and services are cut to pay for damage caused by vandalism.
Businesses pass on the costs of vandalism to customers through higher prices. Some
businesses are forced to move to different neighborhoods, taking good shopping out of
your community.
More Than Money
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People feel angry, hurt, and sometimes frightened when something of theirs — a
mailbox, a bike, a car door — is destroyed for no reason.
Vandalism claims other victims as well — a car crash because stop signs were stolen;
someone in need of help can't dial 911 because the pay phone is broken; people get lost
because street signs are missing or covered with graffiti.
Take Action
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Take pride in your surroundings. Vandalism cheapens your area and you.
Learn about the costs and effects of vandalism by working with law enforcement, school
officials, and community leaders. Teach what you learn to other teenagers and younger
children.
Start a clean-up crew at your school or in your neighborhood. Ask local businesses to
donate supplies like paint and paintbrushes for covering graffiti, or tools and equipment
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for repairing vandalized property. Volunteer to help businesses and homeowners repair
their property as soon as it is vandalized and paint over graffiti.
Write articles for your school or community newspaper on the costs of vandalism and
graffiti, their impact on school and other budgets for activities, and how the courts —
juvenile and adult — treat vandals.
Look for ways to use the talent and creativity of vandals in positive, nondestructive
activities. Sponsor a mural contest at your school or a youth center. Encourage art supply
stores and area businesses to provide large canvases and materials for kids to create
murals inspired by themes like saying no to drugs, the importance of education, or
celebrating diversity in your community. Ask local artists to attend and provide
instruction and advice or judge a mural contest.
Start a vandalism hotline in cooperation with law enforcement and school officials that
lets callers anonymously report incidents of vandalism and gives tips about vandals.
Work with your faith community to adopt a street or a park with your school, youth, or
community group. Plant trees, bushes, and flowers. Repair equipment and install trash
containers. Organize a monthly outing to clean up garbage and keep an eye on things.
http://www.familyfirstaid.org/teen-vandalism.html
Understanding Teen Vandalism
Some of the behaviors and situations that are linked to teen vandalism include:
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binge drinking
seeking money to buy drugs
peer pressure
feeling hostile towards the property owner
In the case of graffiti, however, there may be other factors at works. At least some graffiti
vandals (as the New York Police Department chooses to refer to them) consider themselves
"graffiti artists" or "street artists." It seems that these individuals view their efforts to be towards
ornamenting or enhancing coupled with self expression. The international fame of Banksy, the
English graffiti artist, and other graffiti artists has likely contributed to teen confusion about
whether graffiti vandalism should be considered criminal.
And, in fact, teen's graffiti creations-while not in sanctioned places-may have artistic merit. This
possibility places this type of teen vandalism in contrast to types of vandalism in which items are
devalued through being smashed or broken. That is, smashing property is wrong because it
damages property. Graffiti is wrong because it is created in the "wrong" place. While addressing
teen vandalism often involves reparation and repair of damaged property, addressing teen
vandalism involving graffiti may also involve providing the individual with a sanctioned place in
which to perform his or her "art" and opportunities to put the talent to a positive use.
Consequences of Teen Vandalism
Besides repairing damage to structures, covering graffiti, replacing ruined property, there are
other high costs to teen vandalism. Publicly viewable vandalism changes the atmosphere of a
place. It may give the impression that the people in the area do not value their space and that the
area is not well-protected and perhaps unsafe. This may result in reduced use of the area in and
around the damaged property. Property, such as subway cars, that has to be removed from
service in order to be cleaned of graffiti or repaired also can cause disruption of service.
Addressing Teen Vandalism
Different approaches are taken to teen vandalism. Education is one approach. Making sure that
teens can distinguish pranks from vandalism is one issue addressed. Repairing and restoring
property, which has been found to ease public concerns as well, is another. Reparation is often
part of the restitution if a teen vandal is caught.
A third approach to preventing teen vandalism is prevention. One way of preventing vandalism
is providing alternative activities for teens. Teen centers, schools, and community groups may
sponsor alcohol-free activities, for example. Patrols in areas that are susceptible to vandalism
may also help discourage teen vandals from harming it.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1366&bih=654&q=criminal+teens+doing+graffiti%2F+vand
alism+on+public+%28schools%29+property+and+the+consequences&oq=criminal+teens+doing+graffiti
%2F+vandalism+on+public+%28schools%29+property+and+the+consequences&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm
=e&gs_upl=46961l73082l0l73342l52l51l1l24l0l4l299l4396l2.16.8l26l0
http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/crime-penalties/juvenile/vandalism.htm\
Vandalism Penalties
Some of the specific penalties for vandalism charges convictions for minors and juveniles can
include the following:
Possible Penalties
1. Repairing the damaged property
2. Paying for someone else to repair the damaged property
3. Fines (often of $500 or more)
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Expulsion from school
Counseling
Detention in a juvenile facility
Community service
Up to 3 years of probation
In some cases, even time in jail
9.
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%3B0000024474