Vandalism is the intentional destruction of property. It began as a term used by the Romans to describe the senseless destruction of Carthage, and became a crime in most Western nations in the 19th century. Today vandalism generally refers to an act of graffiti or other inscribed marking made illegally on a property, or that violates personal or public property rights.
Vandalism can be caused by individuals or groups and is considered destruction of property. U.S. laws prevent the destruction of government property, public property, and private property including homes, cars, businesses and more. It's important to note that while vandalism is not necessarily a serious crime, it can have serious consequences such as fines and jail time. Furthermore, individuals who commit acts of vandalism may also be held liable for any expenses incurred to repair the property that was damaged.
The Act was intended to provide for exemplary punishment for acts of vandalism and to make special provisions in regard to certain offenses relating to public property. For more detail, please refer to the info-graphic below.
