Report Graffiti
Graffiti Definition
Community Impact
Types of Graffiti
Removal Procedures

The Public Works/T.A.G. Graffiti Removal Program began in 1993 in collaboration with CSPD, the City of Colorado Springs, and El Paso County. The program is designed for youth court-ordered or as part of the Restorative Justice Program mediation agreement to perform community service hours. After graffiti is reported to our Graffiti Help-line or through our website, the Graffiti Removal Crew, including a supervisor and juvenile offenders, removes the graffiti within the 10-day City Ordinance Rule. The speed in removing the graffiti reduces the unsightliness of the markings, but it also reduces the communication between rival gangs and drug dealers. The program is the only free service to victims whose property has been defaced by graffiti and provides an average of 30 hours per week, 51 weeks per year. This program serves approximately 250 to 300 youth annually who complete over 5000 hours of useful public service for our community.

Since 1993, the program has also lead to over 33 arrests of known “taggers” and of those arrested the courts have assigned over $77,000 in restitution. Ironically, those youth arrested as “taggers” are ordered to work for Workout, Ltd. to remove graffiti. In the 11 years since its inception, the program has become a well-known public service resource. The program also saves the City of Colorado Springs in graffiti clean-up cost, which in effect relieves the tax burden on the citizens of the city.

Graffiti is "Newspaper of the street." The defacing of public or private property by means of painting, drawing, writing, etching, or carving with paint, spray paint, ink or similar methods without the property owner's permission.

Graffiti is:

• The first indication that gangs may be forming in the area
• A way for gangs to mark their territorial boundaries
• A form of communication between gang members

Graffiti develops a local flavor significant to a specific group of kids. Gang graffiti varies depending on the culture and background of the gang members, but there is a generalized format found from coast to coast that, once learned can be read with little difficulty. Graffiti usually includes the gang name, gang set, and street name of the tagger. It usually contains misspelled words and letters that have been reversed, are upside down, or crossed out. Gang graffiti starts small and gets larger as the gang gains confidence. Graffiti always attracts graffiti.

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Graffiti threatens the quality of life in a community. There is a growing consensus around the country that the problem of graffiti, if left unaddressed, contributes to an environment where crimes of a more serious nature flourish and can quickly degrade a neighborhood. Where graffiti is left untouched, property values go down, businesses fold or move on, new businesses refuse to move in.

Graffiti is expensive to both property owners and city government. It takes time, manpower and materials to remove or cover graffiti. Increased maintenance and insurance costs are passed on to both consumers and taxpayers. Customers may be intimidated into shopping elsewhere creating a loss of revenue. In short, everyone pays for graffiti!

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Graffiti generally falls into three categories:

• Junk Graffiti [click to see examples]- not gang related but often includes obscene, racist or threatening themes
• Gang Graffiti [click to see examples] - marks a gangs territory. Used to gain recognition with little fear of arrest. Threatens, shows disrespect or challenges rival gangs. Immortalizes dead gang members.
• Tagging [click to see examples] - Taggers throw up their graffiti for fame, artistic expression, power, and/or rebellion. A small number of taggers can cause a large amount of damage because of their mission to tag as many places as they can in a short period of time. Tagging is considered an entry-level offense that can lead to more serious crimes.

Removing graffiti sends a message to gang members that you own your neighborhood. Removal interferes with gang communication and helps your neighborhood avoid a neglected, decayed look. Untouched graffiti invites others to add their mark because the property owners have "surrendered control" to the lawbreakers.

Removal Procedures:

• Notify the police at 719-444-7000 if the graffiti is on your property or, if in the county, report it to the sheriff at 719-520-7111. A report and photos will be taken - the property owner will be provided with a case number and a graffiti removal brochure.
• Property owners should then remove graffiti or call the Graffiti Hotline at 719-634-5713. You will be asked to fill out the Graffiti Removal Permission slip that enables Workout, Ltd. to come out to remove the graffiti. You can also request removal on line with our Report Graffiti From.
• Code enforcement is notified if the property owner refuses to remove the graffiti on their own and will not sign the Graffiti Removal Permission Slip for Workout, Ltd.

Note: Once the graffiti is reported through the Graffiti Hotline, the location will be placed on a list for removal. However, there will be times that the program is experiencing backlog and will take extra time for the removal team to remove the graffiti.

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