NCJ Number
58043
Date Published
1976
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THE FORMS, CAUSES, AND CONSEQUENCES OF VANDALISM, PARTICULARLY IN THE PUBLIC RECREATIONAL AREAS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ARE DISCUSSED BY A NATIONAL FOREST RECREATION ASSISTANT.
Abstract
VANDALISM IN THE MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS OF SIX BASIC TYPES: (1) PURPOSEFUL ACTS INVOLVING ACQUISITION OF MONEY OR PROPERTY (JUNKING OR STRIPPING FOR RESALE, COLLECTING SOUVENIRS, LOOTING), (2) DAMAGE DONE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO A CAUSE, (3) PROPERTY DESTRUCTION AS AN ACT OF REVENGE FOR PERCEIVED UNFAIR TREATMENT BY A PARK EMPLOYEE, (4) DESTRUCTIVE PLAY ACTIVITIES BY UNSUPERVISED PRETEENAGE CHILDREN, (5) DAMAGE BY BASICALLY RESPONSIBLE BUT ILL-INFORMED AND TEMPORARILY INCONSIDERATE ADULTS, AND (6) MALICIOUS MISCHIEF BY PEOPLE COMBINING HOSTITLITY WITH FUN (A FORM OF BEHAVIOR OFTEN CONDONED BY SOCIETY). VANDALISM IS COSTLY, NOT JUST IN TERMS OF THE EXPENSES INVOLVED IN MAKING FACILITIES VANDALPROOF, BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC. ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES ARE MADE DIFFICULT BY THE ANONYMITY OF MOST VANDALISM, AND BY THE RELATIVELY LOW PRIORITY ACCORDED THE APPREHENSION AND PUNISHMENT OF VANDALS. VANDALISM OF PUBLIC PROPERTY IS A PARTICULAR PROBLEM, BECAUSE PEOPLE TEND TO REGARD SUCH PROPERTY AS NOT REALLY BELONGING TO ANYONE. PUBLIC PROPERTY THAT IS NEGLECTED IS EVEN MORE LIKELY TO BE SEEN AS FAIR GAME. ALTHOUGH YOUTHS ARE PRONE TO PARTICIPATE IN MALICIOUS, APPARENTLY SENSELESS VANDALISM, AND ALTHOUGH VANDALISM IS ESPECIALLY COMMON IN SITES ACCESSIBLE TO LOWER-INCOME GROUPS, THERE IS NO 'VANDAL TYPE'. BEYOND TARGET-HARDENING EFFORTS, THE SOLUTION TO VANDALISM LIES IN THE WILLINGNESS OF PARENTS TO DISCIPLINE THEIR CHILDREN IN A WAY THAT ENABLES THE CHILDREN TO DEAL INDEPENDENTLY WITH INNER DRIVES AND EXTERNAL PRESSURES. (LKM)