NCJ Number
45656
Journal
Management Information Service Report Volume: 8 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1976) Pages: COMPLETE ISSUE
Date Published
1976
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THE STATUS, COSTS, AND MOTIVATING FACTORS OF VANDALISM ARE EXAMINED, AND SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS AIMED AT REDUCING VANDALISM ARE REVIEWED AND EVALUATED.
Abstract
VANDALISM DIRECTED AGAINST SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FACILITIES IS COSTING TAXPAYERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY. VANDALISM MAY BE CATEGORIZED AS ACQUISITIVE, TACTICAL, IDEOLOGICAL, VINDICTIVE, PLAY, AND MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY, INCLUDING GRAFFITTI. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COMMISSION OF PROPERTY OFFENSES MAY INCLUDE THE OFFENDER'S PERCEPTION OF RESTRICTED OPPORTUNITIES, SUBCULTURAL VALUE AND ATTITUDE DIFFERENCES, PROLONGED ADOLESCENT DEPENDENCE, PERSONAL ADJUSTMENT OR CHARACTER DISORDERS, AND INTERNALIZATION OF LABELING AND STEREOTYPING. SINCE FEW VANDALS ARE EVER CAUGHT AND EVEN FEWER FACE PROSECUTION FOR THEIR OFFENSE, NEITHER RESTITUTION NOR PROSECUTION PRESENTS VIABLE APPROACHS TO REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF VANDALISM. VANDAL WATCH PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED BY A NUMBER OF SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND HAVE REDUCED VANDALISM A REPORTED 90 PERCENT OR MORE BY UTILIZING MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS ON THE SITE AS DETERRENTS. A NUMBER OF SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED WITH VARYING SUCCESS, WHICH USE SECURITY PERSONNEL, ALARM, AND SPACE DETECTION DEVICES EITHER SINGLY OR IN COMBINATION. SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO BEEN INSTITUTED TO COMBAT VANDALISM. SUCH PROGRAMS HAVE USED PARENT/PUPIL FORUMS AND NEWSLETTERS AND AN INFORMANT REWARD SYSTEM. A PARTICULARLY COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM AT A LOS ANGELES SCHOOL WITH A LARGER BILINGUAL PUPIL POPULATION HAS INCORPORATED AN ANNUAL HOME VISIT BY TEACHERS, A SCHOOL-SPONSORED COMMUNITY LUNCHEON, AN OPEN-DOOR SCHOOL VISITATION POLICY, A PARENT/TEACHER MEN'S CLUB, A BLOCK PARENT PROGRAM, AND A SCHOOL NEIGHBOR SECURITY WATCH PROGRAM. INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNS WHICH DISCOURAGE VANDALISM AND STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF VANDALISM ACTS AND PENALITES HAVE ALSO BEEN TRIED. GENERAL SUGGESTIONS, UTILIZING A VARIETY OF THESE APPROACHES, ARE LISTED FOR DETERRING VANDALISM IN THE SCHOOLS, AT RECREATIONAL SITES, AND ON MUNICIPAL TRANSPORT SYSTEMS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT, ALTHOUGH NUMEROUS COST-EFFICIENT STEPS MAY BE TAKEN TO REDUCE VANDALISM, THE PREVENTION OF VANDALISM WILL REQUIRE THE MORE DIFFICULT TASK OF COMBATING APATHY, ISOLATION, AND THE LOSS OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY VALUES. THIRTY REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)