Vandalism: Graffiti Artist
What is it?
What is vandalism? Vandalism is the deliberate destruction of private or public
property. Vandalism comes in different forms, but the most commonly known is graffiti.
Graffiti is usually marked by gang members or a tagger, which is a graffiti artist who
spray-paints his or her name or symbol on a public structure. Other acts of vandalism
include stealing signs, such as a stop sign, tearing or writing in library books, spray
painting signs, keying cars and knocking over trash cans and mailboxes. The latest
national percentage of vandalism between years 2003-2004 has gone down 1.1, but in
Washington State it has gone up 3.2%. The vandalism during school hours has been
shown to have a direct link to drinking during school whether cause of boredom or
aggression, but a lot of vandalism happens outside of school hours because of the easy
access to the schools.
Why?
There are many reasons why people vandalize property. A lot is by gangs, but also is out
of people's boredom, anger, defiance, alliance, peer pressure, hostility towards the school
and wanting revenge. Some people take out their aggression while on drugs or drinking.
It can also be done by racial views on other people, or political conflicts. Most vandals
are between 13 and 14, and over one half the crimes associated with vandalism in the
U.S. occur in high school.
The Solution?
People don't realize the price that is paid by not only the vandal, but by the school and
the rest of the community. If the school is vandalized, then the school has to pay for
some of the damage. If it's part of a community, the people's taxes can go up to pay for
the damage. Depending on the severity of the crime one can get sentenced to jail or a
state prison or be on probation, do community service, and a fine for the damage made.
The solution to this problem? Educate people and students on the consequences, and set
up
What is vandalism? Vandalism is the deliberate destruction of private or public
property. Vandalism comes in different forms, but the most commonly known is graffiti.
Graffiti is usually marked by gang members or a tagger, which is a graffiti artist who
spray-paints his or her name or symbol on a public structure. Other acts of vandalism
include stealing signs, such as a stop sign, tearing or writing in library books, spray
painting signs, keying cars and knocking over trash cans and mailboxes. The latest
national percentage of vandalism between years 2003-2004 has gone down 1.1, but in
Washington State it has gone up 3.2%. The vandalism during school hours has been
shown to have a direct link to drinking during school whether cause of boredom or
aggression, but a lot of vandalism happens outside of school hours because of the easy
access to the schools.
Why?
There are many reasons why people vandalize property. A lot is by gangs, but also is out
of people's boredom, anger, defiance, alliance, peer pressure, hostility towards the school
and wanting revenge. Some people take out their aggression while on drugs or drinking.
It can also be done by racial views on other people, or political conflicts. Most vandals
are between 13 and 14, and over one half the crimes associated with vandalism in the
U.S. occur in high school.
The Solution?
People don't realize the price that is paid by not only the vandal, but by the school and
the rest of the community. If the school is vandalized, then the school has to pay for
some of the damage. If it's part of a community, the people's taxes can go up to pay for
the damage. Depending on the severity of the crime one can get sentenced to jail or a
state prison or be on probation, do community service, and a fine for the damage made.
The solution to this problem? Educate people and students on the consequences, and set
up