NCJ Number
58045
Date Published
1976
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE PROBLEM OF VANDALISM IN OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL AREAS FOCUSES ON THE NONDEVIANT, SOCIAL NATURE OF MOST VANDALISM AND ON THE UNINTENDED EFFECTS OF PARK RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Abstract
ACTS OF VANDALISM DO NOT DIFFER QUALITATIVELY FROM OTHER TYPES OF BEHAVIOR. THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF DESTRUCTIVE ACTIVITY (E.G., LOGGING, THE CARVING OF MOUNT RUSHMORE, THE DEMOLITION OF OLD BUILDINGS) THAT DIFFER FROM ACTS CALLED VANDALISM ONLY IN THAT THE FORMER ARE NOT VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW. THAT VANDALISM IS NORMAL ACTIVITY, OR AT LEAST THE OUTGROWTH OF NORMAL ACTIVITY, MEANS THAT IT WILL PERSIST. ACTS OF VANDALISM ARE ESSENTIALLY THE PRODUCT OF SOCIAL INTERACTION AS MANIFESTED IN PLAY AND RETALIATORY BEHAVIOR. THE BEST APPROACH TO PREVENTING VANDALISM PROBABLY LIES IN EFFORTS TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE SETTINGS IN WHICH SOCIAL INTERACTIONS TAKE PLACE, THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN, PROGRAMMED ACTIVITIES, AND ENFORCEMENT. IN WRITING PARK RULES AND REGULATIONS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT A RULE CAN ACTUALLY CREATE AND FOCUS ATTENTION ON VANDALISM BY LABELING PREVIOUSLY LEGITIMATE BEHAVIOR AS A RULE VIOLATION AND/OR BY PLACING PEOPLE WHO WANT TO COMPLY WITH RULES IN A SITUATION THAT LEADS TO THE VIOLATION OF OTHER RULES. FOR INSTANCE, ONE PARK POSTED A RULE FORBIDDING CAMPFIRES OUTSIDE RESTRICTED LOCATIONS. A NEW VIOLATION WAS CREATED, AND CAMPERS WERE CONFINED TO AN AREA SO SMALL THAT THEY RESORTED TO CHOPPING DOWN TREES FOR FUEL. IT SHOULD BE ACCEPTED THAT NEARLY ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY ON OCCASION FIND DESTRUCTION, THE SPECTACULAR DISPLAY, OR THE LEAVING OF ONE'S 'MARK' APPROPRIATE. A FAMOUS CONSERVATIONIST ONCE SET FIRE TO A LARGE FIR TREE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MEADOW, TO WHICH THEODORE ROOSEVELT RESPONDED, 'BULLY, THERE'S A CANDLE THAT TOOK 500 YEARS TO MAKE.' (LKM)