Sheriff's
Main Contact - (775) 785-4020
Report Tagging in Progress - (775)
785-4629
Download
the Graffiti Abatement Service Request Form
GRAFFITTI - IT'S
A CRIME
In 2006 the Consolidated
Graffiti Unit received 2,292 Service requests through the Consolidated
Graffiti Hotline. There were a total of 5,853 sites the County and
City of Reno teams took care of. Of those sites there were 1,493
sites in the county and 4,360 sites in the city.
Over this
past year, there has been a noticeable increase in graffiti throughout
Washoe County. The graffiti hotline receives an average of 250 calls
per month to clean up “tagging” around the area.
Property owners should
have graffiti removed within 24 hours of its appearance. This prevents
the offender from receiving the “fame” and “recognition”
desired when other taggers see their “tag”. This reduces
the likelihood that the tagging will spread. Graffiti, like other
forms of vandalism, is a crime. If you see graffiti in progress,
report it to the police immediately.
From January through
August of 2002, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office SCWP Inmate
Work Crew has painted over 2,101 sites of graffiti within Washoe
County. In 2001, they painted over 3,907 sites, and in 2000 there
were 2,809 sites that received paint. SCWP operates the graffiti
removal equipment and supervises inmate crews who are dedicated
to painting over graffiti a minimum of three days per week with
the cooperation of the Reno Police Department. Each crew consists
of two to three inmates.
There are two
common types of graffiti:
1. Tagging:
Individuals involved in this type of graffiti refer to themselves
as “taggers” or graffiti writers. They attempt to
gain status through painting their “tags” in as many
places as possible. In addition, they may paint “pieces”
which are highly stylized murals. This type is usually illegible
to the untrained eye and intended to be seen only by other “taggers”.
2.
Gang: This type of graffiti is mostly done by gang members
or gang associates. This form of graffiti is a method of communication.
It is used to promote a gang, mark territory, recruit members and/or
intimidate a neighborhood.
Graffiti sends the message
that the area is unsafe and can cause concern for the personal safety
of members of the community. Also, it invites more littering, loitering,
and even more graffiti. It may also lead to an increase in other
crimes and acts of violence. Property sales slow and property values
decline due to the fact that many areas filled with graffiti are
simply unappealing.
Graffiti is an act of
vandalism that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to either
remove or cover each year. Every dollar spent on graffiti removal
is a dollar that could be spent on other sorely needed programs.
Call the Regional
Graffiti Task Force at (775)325-6880 or (775)785-4020 for more information.
