What aspect of conduct is relevant to the offense of vandalism?

The offense of vandalism primarily focuses on the intentional alteration of property. Vandalism involves actions that purposefully damage, deface, or destroy someone else's property without their consent. This intentional aspect is crucial because the legal definition of vandalism requires that the perpetrator acted with intent to cause harm or damage to the property.

This means that if someone alters property—whether by painting graffiti on a wall, breaking windows, or otherwise defacing objects—it is considered vandalism if it's done willfully and without permission of the owner. In contrast, unintentional or negligent behavior, such as accidentally causing damage without intent to do harm, typically does not meet the threshold for vandalism. Thus, the key element of intent distinguishes vandalism from mayhem or accidental property damage, reinforcing the importance of intentionality in prosecuting such offenses.