Jus 320 - the Police Function - Plan to Stop Graffiti

JUS-320 The Police Function

A Plan to Stop Graffiti

Graffiti is drawings, names, words or art that is deliberately made on public or private property such as walls, buildings, sign, fences etc. There are two types of graffiti, gang graffiti and tagging graffiti, but graffiti does not necessarily mean gang involvement. Gang Graffiti is used to designate gang territory, gang affiliation, gang members and often times tells what is going on with the gang. Tagging Graffiti is used for gaining "Fame" with others who are into tagging. The tagging usually shows the "Tag Name" or moniker and sometimes the name of the Tagging Crew they belong to. When done on the property of others without their permission, graffiti is illegal.

The potential for graffiti to occur can be reduced by creating and modifying settings that interfere with offenders' perception of a wall or space as an empty and inviting "blank canvas" waiting to be filled. Implementing a coordinated graffiti removal approach in which a single agency is responsible for managing graffiti removal is one way of helping. Programs to educate, train, and provide expert advice should be implemented to bring awareness to citizens, organizations and community planners. The federal government should establish an annual grant program that would be administered by the local government to fund the implementation of Crime Prevention treatments in the community or areas that have been identified as hotspots.

Developing a Graffiti Control Act to make certain offenses punishable or more severe punishment would help curtail graffiti. An example would be making it an offense for a person under the age of 18 years old to be in possession of a spray paint can, unless the paint can is possessed for a lawful purpose such as education, employment, and legal art onsite. Other examples could be; 1.) allowing people who are fined for graffiti offenses to community service cleanup work with an educational component in lieu of the fine amount. 2.) Increasing the maximum penalty for graffiti vandalism from 6 months to 12 months and possession of an instrument from 3 months to 6 months. 3.) Recognizing the offenses under section 4 and 5 of the Graffiti Act as offenses to which the existing powers of Transit officials to demand personal details. 4.) Establishing a consistent, co-ordinated, scalable scheme to increase the use of community service. 5.) Developing procedures or standards forms and operating protocols for the property owners who experience graffiti vandalism, evidence to present to the court of the harm and cost incurred to them by the acts 6.) Developing a public information campaign to deter those involved in illegal graffiti.

There are so many other things that can assist in deterring graffiti vandalism such as encouraging community members to participate in the upcoming