UNDERSTANDING VANDALISM

• NCJ Number: 46722
• Author(s): P D BLAUVELT
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: Eric Document Reproduction Service; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SECURITY DIRECTORS BICENTENNIAL CONFERENCE, JULY 11-16, 1976

Annotation

THE CAUSES, IMPACTS, COSTS, AND TYPES OF SCHOOL VANDALISM ARE EXAMINED. A CONSIDERATION OF FACTORS IN PLANNING AND DEVELOPING A VANDALISM CONTROL PROGRAM IS ALSO PRESENTED.

Abstract

SCHOOLS PRESENT AN EXCELLENT TARGET FOR VANDALISM BECAUSE THEY ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC AND SECULAR PLACES WHICH ARE FREQUENTLY UNOCCUPIED. THE COSTS OF VANDALISM ARE NOT ONLY MONETARY, BUT ALSO SOCIAL. ASSESSING SOCIAL COSTS INCLUDES AN EVALUATION OF THE IMPACT OF VANDALISM ON THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND ITS EQUIPMENT/FACILITIES; THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT OF VANDALISM ON THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS, INCLUDING FEAR, FRUSTRATION AND RESENTMENT; AND THE EFFECT ON INTERPERSONAL AND INTERGROUP RELATIONS. IN PROGRAMMING SCHOOL SECURITY MANAGEMENT, BOTH FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL COSTS MUST BE WEIGHED; ACTS OF VANDALISM MAY BE HIGH OR LOW ON BOTH COST VARIABLES OR MAY BE HIGH ON ONE BUT LOW ON THE OTHER. ON THE BASIS OF RELATIVE COSTS, A TYPOLOGY OF VANDALISM MAY BE DEVELOPED: (1) HIGH MONETARY AND SOCIAL COSTS, SUCH AS THOSE INCURRED BY THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SCHOOL'S MEDIA CENTER; (2) HIGH MONETARY BUT LOW SOCIAL COST, SUCH AS THOSE RESULTING FROM DESTRUCTION OF VENDING MACHINES OR TOILETS; (3) HIGH SOCIAL BUT LOW MONETARY COSTS, SUCH AS THOSE POTENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH RACIST GRAFFITI; AND (4) LOW MONETARY AND LOW SOCIAL COSTS, SUCH AS THOSE RELATED TO PAINTING NAMES ON BLEACHERS. WHILE MONETARY COST CONTROL MUST BE A STRATEGY PRIORITY, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT MANAGEMENT SHOULD WORK ON THE FIRST AND THIRD TYPOLOGIES BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIALLY HIGH MONETARY COSTS OF THE THIRD TYPOLOGY AND BECAUSE THE PROGRAM GOAL MUST BE TO KEEP SCHOOLS OPEN AND FUNCTIONING. IN DEVELOPING VANDALISM CONTROL STRATEGIES, THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES SHOULD BE KEPT IN MIND: LIMIT TIME AND ACCESS TO FACILITIES IN ORDER TO CONTROL THE MORE COSTLY TYPES OF VANDALISM; AND LIMIT SOCIAL AND MONETARY COSTS WHEREVER POSSIBLE. ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL ACTS IN THE FOURTH TYPOLOGY SHOULD GENERALLY BE VIEWED AS INEFFECTIVE, AND THE BEST STRATEGY IS TO ELIMINATE THE EFFECTS OF SUCH VANDALISM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. A PROGRAM OF PEER GROUP REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS MAY BE ADVISABLE IN COPING WITH THIS FOURTH TYPE OF VANDALISM. (JAP)