GRAFFITI

Graffiti vandalism has become a widespread problem in the Valley where a single vandal with a can of spray paint can cause thousands of dollars in property damage in a few minutes. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has a strict prosecution policy to combat graffiti. We seek incarceration for all defendants convicted of graffiti-related crimes.

There is nothing cultural or artistic about defacing public and private property. Graffiti vandalism represents a threat not just to property but to society as well. The vandals are marking territory or testing legal and social norms.

Graffiti comes in images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or any form of marking on property that does not belong to the vandal. Graffiti is often regarded by others as unsightly damage or unwanted vandalism.

Types of graffiti:

• Some of the most common styles of graffiti have their own names. A "tag" is the most basic writing of a vandal's name in either spray paint or marker. A graffiti writer's tag is his or her personalized signature.

• A more complex style is "wildstyle", a form of graffiti involving interlocking letters, arrows, and connecting points. These pieces are often harder to read by non-graffiti vandals as the letters merge into one another in an often undecipherable manner.

• Sticker tags are commonly done on blank postage stickers or anything with an adhesive side to it.

• Gang graffiti is used for various purposes, especially if many groups populate one specific area or city. The main use is to mark either territory or "turf" by tagging a space such as a wall or building near or on the boundaries of a gang's turf to inform other gangs of their presence.

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; and

• Property destruction, such as broken windows or slashed bus or train seats

Victims

• The graffiti victimizes homeowners, apartment managers, business owners, transit systems, utilities, public works, and many others.

• The graffiti indirectly affects people who see the graffiti. The graffiti also affects places like shopping areas, recreational areas and public transit.

Convicted graffiti vandals can receive over three years in prison, loss of their driver license or ability to get a license until they are 18, and can be ordered to pay full restitution to victims. Additionally, courts may impose fines up to $150,000, and minor vandals' parents may be held liable up to $10,000.

Reporting Graffiti

If you are a witness to graffiti vandalism as it is happening call 9-1-1. Otherwise, refer to your local law enforcement agency to report graffiti vandalism.

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