One of 52 theoretical papers on school crime and its relation to poverty, this chapter states that youthful vandalism is a multidetermined problem that has its roots not simply in the personality of the vandal but also in interaction with peer, family, and community systems. The costs of vandalism are noted, and various intrapsychic and sociocultural theories of causation are reviewed. A general theory of delinquency is proposed, that emphasizes the central role of the family as the mediating system between the individual and society. Finally, a model is proposed for dealing with vandalism that includes school-based prevention, the principle of personal reparations, family therapy, and recommendations for broader social changes. (Author/MLF)