How The Law Deals With Defacement Crimes

Defacement is the act of intentionally marking or removing the portion of an image or article which is specifically created to fulfill the entity of the piece. Defacement is a form of vandalism which may include the presence of actual planning to successfully desecrate the image or article. Website defacement is also a term used in cyberspace to describe the electronic graffiti or system cracker which altered an original existing home page.

When Does Defacement Happen?

Examples of defacement would be ripping off the cover page of a hardbound book, drawing a mustache on the face of a female image in a painting, taking off the sword of a knight sculpture or writing unintelligible words on a gravestone. Any individual who desecrates and defaces any public monument or structure, any place or burial or any private structure which he does not own, with due intent is guilty of a Class D crime.

Defacement is described as the marring, desecration, damaging, scoring, drawing, writing or otherwise physically mistreating in a manner that will outrage the sensibilities of an ordinary person likely to observe or discover the actions. Defacement is more specific than vandalizing since the act usually involves a deeper agenda or purpose in picking the target object or structure. It has become a means of communication by activists and protesters in stating their claims.

What The Law Says

The law states that only the legal owner or an authorized agent of a property, structure or object has the right to intentionally and willfully remove or deface any mark, brand or label. It is strictly prohibited to cause the public unsettlement, alarm, violent response and outrage due to acts of desecration and defacement targeting public monuments and structures. The act shows utter disregard for public and private property with the intent to maliciously create discourse or discontent with an existing policy or regulation.

Defacement of currency is also a violation strictly prohibited by state and federal laws. It is illegal to mutilate, cut, disfigure, perforate, unite or cement together or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association with intent to render such item unfit to be reissued. 

Defacement is a crime and any individual found guilty of the act will be penalized by state laws adhering to acts of vandalism. Defacement may cause physical injury, death or unsettlement or rebellion in the part of the public thereby making it a very grave offense. An example of grave defacement is altering the light colors of a traffic light causing collision of vehicles and death.

Punishment For Defacement 

Defacement can be punishable by fines and imprisonment. Any individual found guilty of the crime can be fined from $100 to $1,000,000 depending on damages incurred. Jail time can last from twenty four hours to five years. Legal proceedings may be required to determine intent to desecrate public structures and monument to identify further actions that may be associated with conspiracy, incitement to sedition or rebellion.

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