Graffiti Penalties (H 6276, S 0548A)

Turning back impassioned objections from Rep. Maria Cimini, Grace Diaz and others in the closing hours of the session, the General Assembly passed legislation drastically raising the criminal penalties for graffiti offenders, going so far as to turn graffiti into a felony at the third offense.  The ACLU and other organizations noted that graffiti offenses are overwhelmingly committed by young adults and minors, and that imposing excessive fines and jail time upon these young people exacerbates the “school-to-prison pipeline” and saddles them with a potential lifetime of consequences.  Further, the legislation carries harsher punishments for minors than adults, and shoulders parents with paying up to $10,000 in restitution and possible jail time if they fail to pay. The House passed the bill on a 30-28 vote. Despite a request by the ACLU and and a number of other community groups asking Governor Chafee to veto the bill, he signed it into law.