NCJ Number
53716
Date Published
1977
Length
59 pages
Annotation
AN ASSESSMENT OF THE ARSON INFORMATION CENTER, A NATIONAL RESOURCE CENTER, IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE ARSON INFORMATION CENTER WAS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE A NATIONAL SAMPLING OF THE ARSON DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES. SEVERAL MAJOR CITIES WERE SELECTED IN AN EFFORT TO ACHIEVE A REPRESENTATIVE NATIONAL SAMPLE. SPECIFICALLY, THE ARSON INFORMATION CENTER SOUGHT INFORMATION TO BE USED IN THREE WAYS: (1) TO ENHANCE THE PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THOSE WHO NEED AND USE INFORMATION ABOUT COMBATTING ARSON BOTH IN INDUSTRY AND IN GOVERNMENT; (2) TO PROVIDE USEFUL BASES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING MATERIALS TO COMBAT ARSON; AND (3) TO PROVIDE USEFUL BASES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE ARSON PROBLEM. THE COLLECTION NOW INCLUDES PRINTED DOCUMENTS (E.G., BOOKS, REPORTS, TEXTS OF SPEECHES, SEMINAR OUTLINES AND PRESENTATIONS, COURSE OUTLINES AND INSTRUCTIONAL TEXTS, AND ARTICLES), AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS (E.G., SLIDES, PHOTOGRAPHS, FILMS, AND VIDEOTAPES), AND REPRESENTATIVE CASE FILES SELECTED BY ARSON INVESTIGATORS. THIS COLLECTION SHOWS THE TYPE OF INFORMATION PRESENTLY AVAILABLE, NOT WHAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF POTENTIAL USERS. EXAMINATION OF THE DOCUMENTS IN THE COLLECTION REVEALS SHORTAGES OF INFORMATION ON THE MORE SOPHISTICATED ASPECTS OF ARSON DETECTION. THERE IS ALSO A LACK OF SUFFICIENT INFORMATION ON HANDLING AND LABORATORY ANALYSIS OF EVIDENCE AND CASE PREPARATION AND DOCUMENTATION. THERE IS, FURTHERMORE, A LACK OF VALID STATISTICS ON THE OCCURRENCE AND COSTS OF ARSON. FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARSON INFORMATION CENTER IS RECOMMENDED TO PROVIDE THREE FURTHER BENEFITS: (1) IT SHOULD CONTAIN INFORMATION ON THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF A NATIONAL EFFORT; (2) IT SHOULD SERVE AS A SPEARHEAD FOR A MEANINGFUL ATTACK ON ARSON; AND (3) IT SHOULD PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF INFORMATION BASED ON PROBLEM RECOGNITION, DEFINITION, AND SOLUTION. FLOW CHARTS ARE INCLUDED. (MLC)