Recklessly damaging property is called criminal damage. Criminal damage as defined by Arizona state law (A.R.S. § 13-1602(A)) includes charges that range from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on the amount of damage. In many cases, the person who commits criminal damage (or their parents if their are underage) is responsible for paying for the damages. If you are minor, your parents or legal guardian can be held responsible for any damages that you caused by being required to pay for the damages. (A.R.S. § 12-661).
Defacing property is also considered criminal damage. This includes the marking, scratching, or painting of property that does not belong to you and without the owner's permission. Painting graffiti, for example, is breaking the law and Arizona has specific graffiti provisions and enhanced penalties depending on the situation (e.g., repeat offenses, gang-related graffiti).
Juveniles who damage the property of others can be placed on probation (either with or without detention) and can be required to pay for damages. Courts often order restitution (paying for repairs) in addition to fines or probation.
Laws may have changed since this page was last updated. For the most current information, visit the Arizona State Legislature website.