Crime of Vandalism: What is it how to defend yourself

Crime of Vandalism:

In our urban society and with the growth in Street Art in an around Los Angeles County the crime of vandalism has become an important criminal law topic. Many Criminal Law Defense Lawyers and Criminal Law attorney have witnesses a rise in the prosecution of such vandalism offenses in Southern California.

The definition of Vandalism is the defacing, destruction or damaging of a property that does not belong to you, or property that you do not have permission to destroy.

According to California’s Vandalism Law under penal code 594 the legal definition of vandalism is "Every person who maliciously commits any of the following acts:

• Defaces with graffiti or other inscribed material
• Damages or
• Destroys the real or personal property of another."

In order to effectively charge you with vandalism, the district attorneys’ office must to prove:

(1) You destroyed or damages property belonging to another person through defacement

(2) It was our intent to do so, in other words they must prove Malice was involved

(3) And the value of the damage to the property less than $400, however, in a felony prosecution the value of the damage has to be more than $400.

Vandalism Law may cover many differing criminal activities. Most prosecuted acts of vandalism include, church vandalism, cemetery vandalism, mail box vandalism, school vandalism and car vandalism.   Other examples of vandalism in the state of California

·         Slashing tire

·         Destroying a park or bus bench

·         Destroying or damaging subway system terminals

·         Spraying of Graffiti

The Definition of Graffiti under California law includes, “any unauthorized inscription, word, figure, mark, or design, that is written, marked, etched, scratched, drawn, or painted on real or personal property”

There is a growing demand by the public for district attorney’s offices to prosecute persons who have committed acts of vandalism. Vandalism law can be a difficult to understand.  If you or anyone you know have been charged for such an offense feel free to contact out Vandalism Law attorney and general criminal law attorneys’ at Downtownlalaw.com