Yes. Graffiti is prosecuted as vandalism in Rhode Island under R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-44-1 when applied to property without the owner's permission. Penalties scale with the damage value (cost of cleanup or repair). Misdemeanor graffiti charges carry up to 1 year jail and fines up to $1,000. Tagging on protected property (schools, churches, government buildings, historic sites) can trigger elevated charges. Many municipalities also have separate ordinances targeting graffiti with civil penalties on top of any criminal charges. Defense work in graffiti cases often involves contesting whether the defendant actually applied the markings and challenging surveillance evidence.
