The purpose of Santa Clara County's Graffiti Abatement Program is to improve the quality of life and provide more livable communities for residents of unincorporated areas by reducing the amount of graffiti on public and private buildings.

The components of a successful program include the 4 E's: Eradication, Empowerment, Education, and Enforcement.

Eradication
Immediate removal of graffiti is essential to controlling this growing epidemic. Santa Clara County utilizes volunteers and juvenile offenders to paint over graffiti in the unincorporated areas. Additionally, we work in partnership with other agencies and cities to clean up graffiti as quickly as possible. Property owners are encouraged to remove graffiti as soon as it appears. The Graffiti Abatement Program provides free paint to property owners to assist them in covering up unwanted graffiti.

Empowerment
Involving the community in the fight against graffiti is key to empowering them to take ownership and pride in their neighborhood. Residents are encouraged to Adopt-A-Location to maintain graffiti free. Additionally, volunteer paint out events are scheduled on a regular basis.

Education
Knowledge is power. Outreach efforts include educating residents and property owners about the effects of graffiti in their community. Educating youth about the consequences associated with graffiti is the first step in preventing them from getting involved in graffiti vandalism. Staff has developed an exciting, interactive curriculum for school-aged youth.

Enforcement
The Sheriff's Office is responsible for apprehending those responsible for graffiti vandalism. The District Attorney's Office ensures that vandals are held accountable for their actions and the Probation Department provides work programs that allow offenders to make reparation to the communities in which they have offended.

• Crime Stoppers
• Graffiti Hurts
• The NoGraf Network

• Santa Clara County Graffiti Abatement Ordinance

• Litter in Santa Clara County
  Reducing litter in our communities will improve our environment and contribute to a better quality of life.
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• Volunteer for Graffiti Abatement
  Help to maintain a graffiti-free environment by Adopting-A-Location or volunteering as a Paint-Out Captain, Paint-Out Participant or Graffiti Spotter.
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• Reporting Graffiti
  How to get information about the Graffiti Abatement Program and other important phone numbers for reporting graffiti
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• Graffiti Q & A
  Questions and Answers related to graffiti, including the penalties for grafitti vandalism.
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