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Behavior Modification Stops Graffiti

Behavior Modification Stops Graffiti

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Graffiti is a problem affecting many cities throughout the world. The defacement of both public and private property due to instances of graffiti, is one of the most common forms of vandalism. In most cases, graffiti is a means by which a gang displays their operating area, most often as a warning to rival gang’s to stay out. This type of gang-graffiti causes further recurrences of the crime as it invites rival gangs to display their warnings over the previous criminal’s display.

Complete abatement of gang-related graffiti is hard to accomplish as the tenacious character of gang-member attitudes are difficult to suppress. It is here that exists a never-ending cycle of repetitive graffiti cleanup, only to see the newly cleaned area fall victim to further instances of graffiti. Despite many regions in the U.S. enacting new legislation to help deal with the crime of graffiti, stiffer fines and harsher punishments have done little in the way of preventing this vandalism from occurring.

Another popular form of graffiti falls under the misdirected perception of “street” or “urban” art. While many of these artists can show varying degrees of talent, their acts are still a crime when committed without property owners’ permission.

Apart from gang-related graffiti and “street artist” graffiti, defacing property is also a crime of vandalism. Writing one’s name or drawing on a restroom stall is considered graffiti. The type of behavior that leads to this criminal act is often said to be due to boredom or an acting-out because of anger, contributing to delinquency. Behavior modification systems, such as after-school programs or regular therapy, can often show a reduction in instances of delinquent behavior.

The sudden interruption of an individual committing the crime of graffiti can lead to a transition in attitude when the individual is allowed to reflect on the consequences of their negative behavior. The graffiti camera employs on-board technology that stops the crime from being committed. The interruption of those committing the crime of graffiti, due to the graffiti camera, modifies the behavior of the individual previously engaged in the act. It is time to re-think how you are stopping graffiti.

Graffiti Prevention

Graffiti Prevention

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It is no secret that most large cities are a hot-spot for graffiti.  In addition to gangs using graffiti to “mark” their territory, there is also a host of “artists” who belong to an underground “street art” scene.  What these gangs and so-called “artists” don’t seem to take into consideration, however, is the cost and resources needed to clean up their graffiti.

For instance, In 2014, Los Angeles city workers cleaned up 32.4 million square feet of graffiti, or the equivalent square footage of 562 football fields.  Due to the vast and large nature of the City of Los Angeles, this comes as no surprise.  At this rate, Los Angeles City spends roughly $7 million per year of city money to clean up graffiti– money which would be better spent on other programs that benefit the citizens.

Some cities pay graffiti abatement crews to clean up the mess daily. Although necessary, these crews are often working in vain, as the freshly cleaned-up graffiti seems to return as quickly as it’s scrubbed off or painted over, functioning as a sort of budget-money-black-hole, fueled by more than 100,000 civilian complaints of graffiti sightings.

One worthy idea devised by some cities, is to “punish” caught and convicted taggers by making them clean up their own mess and repaint the structures as a form of rehabilitation.  However, this is only working, if the graffiti vandals are caught and convicted.  What about the countless taggers that whiz by under the radar, committing graffiti on a daily basis, uncaught and therefore undisciplined?  This triggers the question, what are cities doing regarding graffiti prevention?  

It is clear, it is time for the cities to approach the problem of graffiti with a new set of eyes, due to the current situation behaving not unlike a recurring nightmare with no end in sight. The repetitive nature of current means of dealing with graffiti is like a game of cat and mouse, handled on a day-to-day and case-by-case basis.  Without a preventative plan of action and a graffiti camera, this game, sadly, is certain to continue.

Graffiti Strains the City Budget

Graffiti Strains the City Budget

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Cleaning up unwanted markings on public property costs taxpayers millions of dollars every year.  Some cities do not have a budget for graffiti cleanup,  therefore, funds have to be allocated from other city budgets to make up for the deficit. This puts an obvious and unnecessary strain on government-run programs, such as public services, as well as other tax funded articles like public education.

Graffiti clean-up drains a city of their resources, costing both money and manpower, which is deducted from budgets that would otherwise be used for public provisions.  Public services such as public transportation, infrastructure, and environmental protection are greatly affected if the budget for these services are tapped in order to clean up illegal markings.  The crime is even more economically strenuous if additional funds are used to pay for security watches.

Even more distressing to see, is when the public education assets are recruited to combat the graffiti budget delinquencies.  Utter chaos ensues if schools cannot adequately pay for resources,  uphold safe and orderly school campus grounds, and the hiring and sustaining of respectable teachers.  Sadly, scholarship funding may also be reduced for the less fortunate students.

The cost of cleaning up graffiti is high and in some instances a full time job. Some cities never see a shortage of unwanted markings they have to clean up. A tagging site is cleaned up one day, and in some cases, it is back the very next day. While other cities see an ebb and flow, once an area is vandalized and not taken care of, the problem will quickly grow out of control.

Though it can be costly, prevention is the best solution because in the long run it will cost the city less than the constant clean up of the graffiti problem.

Graffiti

What is the True Cost of Graffiti?

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Each City has their own statistics on what graffiti costs, which could include the expense of the chemicals to remove the graffiti, the paint to repaint the damaged surface from the graffiti, and valuable labor resources used to paint over the graffiti. The Center for Problem-Oriented Policing, (POP), estimates the graffiti problem costs our nation $12 billion  annually.  But what about the hidden costs?  What does graffiti cost a child who has to go to school that is marked with graffiti or play at a park tagged with graffiti warnings?  According to POP, the offender is “conducting a psychological battle with authorities”.  Children who live in communities with graffiti know this battle all too well. How is a teacher going to have authority in the classroom when the students see there is no authority on the graffiti walls of their school?   How is a child going to respect the police officer who can’t keep the offenders from graffiti marking the streets? How can a child feel safe playing at the park when offenders have placed graffiti threats on the playground equipment?  Are cities doing everything they can to win this battle and protect the most innocent of victims?   The true cost of graffiti cannot be measured.