GRAFFITI

In recent decades, graffiti has become an extensive problem, spreading from the largest cities to smaller locales. Despite the common association of graffiti with gangs, graffiti is widely found in all areas, and graffiti offenders are by no means limited to gangs.

Because of its rising prevalence in many areas-and the high costs typically associated with cleanup and prevention-graffiti is often viewed as a persistent, if not intractable, problem. Few graffiti offenders are apprehended and some change their methods and locations in response to possible apprehension and cleanups. (Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Graffiti)

How is the community impacted?

Graffiti impacts communities in a negative way by attracting other forms of crime and street delinquency to the community. Funds that could be used for schools, roads, parks, and other community improvements end up being used for graffiti clean up. Communities with graffiti see a decrease in property values, loss of business growth and tourism, and reduced ridership on transit systems. (Source: Graffiti Hurts)

The appearance of graffiti heightens residents' fears and is often perceived as a sign that a downward spiral has begun, even though this may not be true. If allowed to remain, it sends the message that the community is unconcerned about its appearance. In spite of its colorful qualities, graffiti is not art. Graffiti is a crime that costs communities more than $8 billion a year in the United States to clean up. Although graffiti vandals come from varied social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds, graffiti is very much a youth-related problem, with about half of all acts committed by suburban males from preteens to early twenties.

Related Problems

Graffiti is not an isolated problem. It is often related to other crime and disorder problems, including:

• public disorder, such as littering, public urination and loitering
• shoplifting of materials needed for graffiti, such as paint and markers
• gangs and gang violence, as gang graffiti conveys threats and identifies turf boundaries
• Property destruction, such as broken windows or slashed bus or train seats.

Types of Graffiti

There are different types of graffiti. The major types include:

• gang graffiti, often used by gangs to mark turf or convey threats of violence, and sometimes copycat graffiti, which mimics gang graffiti
• tagger graffiti, ranging from high-volume simple hits to complex street art
• conventional graffiti, often isolated or spontaneous acts of "youthful exuberance," but sometimes malicious or vindictive
• Ideological graffiti, such as political or hate graffiti, which conveys political messages or racial, religious or ethnic slurs.

(Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, Graffiti)

Graffiti Prevention Tips

To step up graffiti prevention efforts:

• Keep up the neighborhood. Keep the appearance of a neighborhood clean and neat. Remove litter and trash, fix broken fences, trim landscape, and ensure all lighting is working properly.
• Remove graffiti promptly. Rapid removal of graffiti is an effective prevention tool. Data shows that removal within 24 to 48 hours results in a nearly zero rate of recurrence.
• Encourage citizen reporting. Educate the public about the impact of graffiti vandalism and provide a way to report graffiti.
• Enforce existing anti-graffiti laws. Law enforcement dedicated to tracking and apprehending graffiti vandals is a strong deterrent.
• Educate youth. Use curriculum supplements like Graffiti Hurts K-8 to incorporate graffiti education and prevention into classroom activities.

(Source: National Crime Prevention Council, Graffiti Facts and Figures)

Wipe out graffiti in your neighborhood:

"Aggressive prosecution of these graffiti vandals is important; support your local cities by ensuring that existing anti-graffiti laws are being enforced."

07.13.09

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