7610 VANDALISM

A.    	Definitions
 
1.     	“Vandalism” means the willful and malicious acts of any person 		that result in the destruction, defacement, or damage of any 			property, real or personal, belonging to or entrusted to the Board of 	Education. Vandalism includes arson and acts of graffiti.
 
2.     	“Arson” means the willful and malicious burning or setting on fire 		of any building or part of any building owned or operated by the 		Board, by any person.
 
3.     	“Act of graffiti” means the drawing, painting, or making of any 		mark or inscription on school district real or personal property 		without the permission of the school district.
 B.    	Reporting Vandalism
 		1.     	Any school employee who has reason to believe an act of 					vandalism has occurred shall immediately report that belief or 				suspicion to the Principal of the affected building or, if the 					vandalism occurs at a facility other than a school, the supervisor in 				charge of the facility. 
2.     	The Principal or supervisor shall promptly institute an 			investigation of the report by taking these steps as appropriate to 		the extent and seriousness of the vandalism:
 
a.     	Requesting the reporting employee to file a report of the 		evidence giving rise to their belief or suspicion that 			vandalism has occurred;
 
b.     	Visiting the site of the vandalism and examining its extent, 		taking photographs as necessary;
 
c.     	Determining and recording the names of witnesses, if any;
 
d.     	Interviewing witnesses and requesting their written reports 		of events;
 
e.     	Assessing the costs of repair and replacement of any parts 		of the building, furnishings, and/or equipment; and
 
f.      	Questioning the person(s), if any, identified as 			having caused the vandalism.
 		3.     	The Principal will complete and file with the Superintendent a 				detailed vandalism and property damage report. 
4.     	The Principal will notify law enforcement when appropriate and in 		accordance with applicable laws. 

C.    	Penalties and Restitution
 
1.     	A student who vandalizes school property is subject to discipline, 		which may include suspension or expulsion, in accordance with 		Board Policy, Board Regulation, and law.
 
2.     	A student who vandalizes school property will be held liable for 		any damages caused by the act of vandalism.
 
3.     	The parent(s) of any minor who shall injure any public or 			nonpublic school property shall be liable for damages for the 		amount of the injury to be collected by the Board or the owner of 		the premises in any Court of competent jurisdiction, together with 		costs of suit in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:37-3.
 
a.     	The Principal or designee shall obtain a professional 		estimate of the cost of repairs and/or replacements 			necessitated by the vandalism.
 
b.     	The Principal or designee shall present the student’s 		parent(s) with an itemized bill based on the estimated costs.
 
c.     	If, within thirty calendar days, the student’s parent(s) has 		not paid the bill or made arrangements with the Principal or 	designee for the payment of the bill in periodic 			installments, the Superintendent shall inform the Board and 	may recommend the Board Attorney commence civil action 	for the amount due together with costs.
 
d.     	No diploma, transcript, transfer card, or report card will be 		issued to the student until all obligations to the Board have 		been met. 
 
4.   	Any person who purposely defaces or damages school property 		with any symbol that exposes persons to violence, contempt, or 		hatred on the basis of any of the protected categories listed at 		N.J.A.C. 6A:7-1.1(a) may have committed a crime and shall be 		reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency in accordance 		with Policy and Regulation 8465; N.J.A.C. 6A:16-6.3; and the 		Memorandum of Agreement with Local Law Enforcement.
 
5.   	Any person who purposely or knowingly damages school district 		property recklessly or negligently in the employment of fire, 		explosives, or another dangerous means listed in accordance with 		N.J.S.A. 2C:17-2, or purposely or recklessly tampers with the 		tangible property of the school district so as to endanger school 		district property, will be reported to the appropriate law 			enforcement agency.
 
6.   	A person convicted of an offense of criminal mischief that 			involves an act of graffiti may, in addition to any other penalty 		imposed by the Court, be required to pay the school district 			monetary restitution in the amount of the pecuniary damage caused 	by the act of graffiti and to perform community service, which may 	include removing the graffiti from the property, in accordance with 	N.J.S.A. 2C:17-3.c.  If community service is ordered by the Court, 		it shall be for either not less than twenty days or not less than the 		number of days necessary to remove the graffiti from the property. 

Adopted:	18 December 1995
Revised:	April 30, 2024