NCJ Number
58049
Date Published
1976
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A STATE-OF-THE-ART OVERVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON VANDALISM IN PUBLIC RECREATIONAL AREAS TOUCHES ON DEFINITIONS, CAUSES, CONTROLS, AND RESEARCH NEEDS.
Abstract
THE LITERATURE ON VANDALISM IN THE PUBLIC PARKS AND FORESTS MAY BE CATEGORIZED AS RHETORIC OR OPINION, THEORETICAL DISCUSSION, AND DESCRIPTIVE OR EVALUATIVE RESEARCH. RECREATION MANAGERS SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS IN SEEKING SOLUTIONS TO THEIR PROBLEMS FROM THE LITERATURE, BECAUSE UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS ABOUND. THERE IS SOME CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES VANDALISM IN A RECREATIONAL SETTING. WHAT IS VANDALISM TO THE RECREATION MANAGER MAY NOT SEEM LIKE VANDALISM TO THE USER, A DIFFERENCE IN PERSPECTIVE THAT IS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF ANY APPROACH TO CONTROLLING VANDALISM. MANY THEORIES--BIOLOGICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIOLOGICAL--HAVE BEEN OFFERED AS EXPLANATIONS FOR VANDALISM, BUT NONE HAS BEEN PROVED. THE COMMON BELIEF THAT VANDALISM IS STRICTLY WANTON, MALICIOUS ACTIVITY HAS BEEN COUNTERED BY THOSE WHO ARGUE THAT A REASON CAN BE FOUND FOR MOST ACTS OF VANDALISM. APPROACHES FOR CONTROLLING VANDALISM GENERALLY FOCUS ON PUBLIC EDUCATION, DIRECT MANAGEMENT, DETECTION AND ENFORCEMENT, AND/OR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT. ANY LONG-RANGE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WILL REQUIRE A VARIETY OF APPROACHES. IT MAY BE NECESSARY TO ACCEPT THAT, FOR SOME FORMS OF VANDALISM, THE CONTROLS WOULD BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM. FUTURE RESEARCH SHOULD BE BASED ON CLOSE COOPERATION BETWEEN RESEARCHERS AND MANAGERS, SHOULD ENCOMPASS A VARIETY OF RECREATION SITES AND USER GROUPS, AND SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON IDENTIFYING AND MEASURING THE IMPACT OF VANDALISM. THE VANDALISM PROBLEM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH OTHER FORMS OF DEPRECIATIVE BEHAVIOR (RULE VIOLATION, LITTERING, ETC.). A VARIETY OF PERSPECTIVES, INCLUDING THE USER'S, SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT RECREATION IS LEGITIMATE AND WORTHWHILE, BUT LIKE ALL OTHER RESOURCE USES, IT HAS ITS IMPACT AND COST. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)