NCJ Number
56056
Date Published
1978
Length
156 pages
Annotation
THIS NILECJ STATE-OF-THE-ART REPORT IDENTIFIES IMPORTANT TOPICS IN ARSON RESEARCH, DISCUSSES STATISTICS AND RESEARCH MODELS, AND EXAMINES ARSON DETECTION TECHNOLOGY.
Abstract
THE REPORT DATA WERE GATHERED IN A SURVEY OF LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES ACTIVE IN ANTIARSON WORK AND FROM A REVIEW OF LITERATURE. RESEARCH IS DIVIDED INTO FIVE GROUPS: (1) INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS, COVERING ORGANIZATION OF THE ARSON CONTROL ESTABLISHMENT AND RESOURCES APPLIED, TRAINING OF PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL, AND THE IMPACT OF THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY; (2) LAW AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCLUDING LAWS, ARSON IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND EVIDENCE AVAILABILITY IN ARSON CASES; (3) PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY, REGARDING THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FIRE SETTERS, THE ELICITATION OF ACTIVE PUBLIC COOPERATION, AND THE EFFECTS OF MICROSOCIETIES AND MICROCULTURES ON FIRE-SETTING BEHAVIOR; (4) STATISTICS AND MODELS, COVERING THE RELIABILITY OF ARSON INCIDENCE STATISTICS, ANALYSIS OF ARSON-RELATED PATTERNS, AND THE USE OF ECONOMIC MODELS; AND (5) TECHNOLOGY, ENTAILING ARSON LABORATORY REQUIREMENTS, LABORATORY TECHNIQUES, PACKAGING OF EVIDENCE, USE AND PERFORMANCE OF EQUIPMENT AT FIRE SITES, DATA HANDBOOKS, AND MAKING STRUCTURES MORE RESISTANT TO ARSON. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ARSON RESEARCH BE DONE IN COMPARATIVELY SMALL, WELL-BOUNDED PROJECTS ON TRACTABLE TOPICS WITHIN LARGER AREAS OF IMPORTANCE. RESEARCH MUST BE SPECIFIC TO ARSON, SINCE STUDIES OF CRIME IN GENERAL ARE NOT RELEVANT. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE SUGGESTIONS THAT NILECJ CONDUCT RESEARCH TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE MODE BY WHICH ARSON INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION ARE ORGANIZED AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ARSON CONTROL ACTIVITIES, CONDUCT A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE EFFECT OF PROPERTY INSPECTIONS BY INSURANCE COMPANIES PRIOR TO ISSUING INSURANCE ON ARSON, AND SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ARSONIST ARREST PROFILE SYSTEM AND ITS TESTING IN SEVERAL JURISDICTIONS. ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS, REFERENCES, AND A LIST OF AGENCIES AND PERSONNEL ACTIVE IN ARSON INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)