NCJ Number
48818
Date Published
1978
Length
15 pages
Annotation
THIS GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE REPORT EXAMINES THE NEED FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ARSON DETECTION TECHNIQUES, ARSON INVESTIGATOR AND PROSECUTOR TRAINING, AND FUNDING FOR ARSON PREVENTION PROGRAMS.
Abstract
ARSON IS DEFINED AS THE ACT OF BURNING PROPERTY FOR AN IMPROPER PURPOSE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO PROVE ARSON BECAUSE EVIDENCE IS USUALLY DESTROYED IN THE FIRE AND NORMALLY THERE ARE NO WITNESSES. MOTIVES FOR COMMITTING ARSON INCLUDE JEALOUSY; SPITE; OR A DESIRE TO PROFIT, CONCEAL CRIME, VANDALIZE, GET REVENGE, OR INTIMIDATE. PYROMANIACS OFTEN COMMIT ACTS OF ARSON. THE NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL ADMINISTRATION, CREATED BY THE FEDERAL FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL ACT OF 1974, HAS EMERGED AS THE FEDERAL FOCAL POINT FOR FUNDING ARSON INTERVENTION PROGRAMS IN STATES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THE ADMINISTRATION'S ROLE IS TO REDUCE ARSON THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, RESEARCH, PUBLIC INFORMATION, AND DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS. WHILE THERE ARE NO FEDERAL PROGRAMS SPECIFICALLY DIRECTED AT FUNDING STATE AND LOCAL ARSON INVESTIGATORS AND PROSECUTORS, THE LEAA GRANTS TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS INCLUDE FUNDS FOR ARSON-RELATED ACTIVITIES. AS PART OF THE OVERALL TRAINING OF ITS AGENTS, THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND FIREARMS COVERS FIRE BOMBING METHODS, BOMB SCENE SEARCHES AND INVESTIGATIONS, AND THE RECOGNITION OF INCENDIARY DEVICES. THE FIRE RESEARCH CENTER HAS STUDIED PSYCHOLOGICAL MOTIVATIONS OF ARSONISTS. WITHIN THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, ARSON INVESTIGATION IS NOT A HIGH PRIORITY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE FOLLOWING BE DEVELOPED: FEDERAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS ON ARSON DETECTION TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT, ARSON INVESTIGATOR AND PROSECUTOR TRAINING COURSES AND PLANS FOR ARSON DETENTION. APPENDIXES CONTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON RESEARCH NEEDS RELEVANT TO THE PREVENTION OF ARSON AND ON FEDERAL GRANTS AND PROGRAMS PERTAINING TO ARSON DETECTION AND PREVENTION. (DEP) (DEP)