North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) State Practice Exam

What is the legal term for someone who writes on or injures the walls of public buildings?

1. Vandalism

2. Defacing a public building, statute, or monument

3. Illegal graffiti

4. Criminal mischief

The correct answer is: Defacing a public building, statute, or monument

The legal term for someone who writes on or injures the walls of public buildings is best understood as "defacing a public building, statute, or monument." This term specifically addresses the act of damaging or altering the appearance of public structures or items, which can include graffiti as well as other forms of damage. Defacement covers a range of actions that result in the destruction, defacement, or alteration of property that belongs to the public, ensuring that the terminology used encapsulates the legal implications and responsibilities associated with these actions. In many legal contexts, this term is used to refer directly to such acts, making it a precise way to describe the behavior in question. While the other terms mentioned may relate to similar acts—such as vandalism and criminal mischief—those terms may not capture the specific nature of defacing public property in a legal sense as accurately as the selected answer. Specifically, "vandalism" is a more general term that encompasses acts of malicious intent to destroy property, and "criminal mischief" broadens the scope to include a wider range of offenses. "Illegal graffiti" focuses only on the act of graffiti rather than the broader implications of defacing any public structure. Therefore, the chosen terminology is the most