NEIGHBORHOOD ARSON CONTROL SYSTEMS - A MANUAL FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

• NCJ Number: 67855
• Author(s): K LATTEA
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 78 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78-CA-AX-0126
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Volunteer - the National Ctr for Citizen Involvement
• Sale Source: Volunteer - the National Ctr for Citizen Involvement
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: THIS DOCUMENT AVAILABLE ON MICROFICHE AS NCJ-71057. VOLUNTEER ORGANIZING AGAINST CRIME SERIES.

Annotation

THE MANUAL DETAILS MAJOR ACTIVITIES OF AN ARSON PREVENTION CAMPAIGN BASED ON A BLOCK CLUB APPROACH, ESTABLISHEMENT OF A STEERING COMMITTEE, RESEARCH OF PROPERTY HISTORIES, AND COMMUNITY INTERVENTION.

Abstract

ARSON IS THE WILLFUL AND MALICIOUS BURNING OF ANOTHER'S OR ONE'S OWN PROPERTY FOR SOME IMPROPER PURPOSE AND IS THE FINAL STAGE IN THE PROCESS OF NEIGHBORHOOD DECAY AND DETERIORATION. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD ARSON CONTROL SYSTEM (NACS) PROVIDES RESIDENTS WITH THE MEANS TO BREAK THE DETERIORATION. VARIABLES WHICH SIGNAL ARSON POTENTIAL INCLUDE VACANT OR ABANDONED BUILDINGS, INFLATION PROBLEMS, DISINVESTMENT, OLD BUILDINGS, AND POOR MANAGEMENT. NEIGHBORHOOD SPECULATORS AND ABSENTEE LANDLORDS PRESENT A THREAT TO ANTIARSON EFFORTS, AS DOES A LACK OF HOUSING CODE ENFORCEMENT. THE FIRST STEP IN ARSON PREVENTION IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STEERING COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP A BLOCK CLUB NETWORK, COORDINATE AN NACS, SELECT THE TARGET AREA OF THE NACS, AND TRAIN AND DIRECT THE RESEARCHERS IN EXAMINING THE PHYSICAL, FINANCIAL, AND OWNERSHIP HISTORIES OF THE PROPERTIES IN THE TARGET AREA. THE RESEARCH ITSELF IS THE SECOND STEP AND CONSISTS OF PERFORMING TITLE SEARCHES, DETERMINING HOUSING CODE VIOLATIONS, EXAMINING FIRE INSURANCE AND TAX DELINQUENCY RECORDS, AND CONDUCTING PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WITH RESIDENTS. OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ANALYSES OF EACH PROPERTY HISTORY AND MONITORING THE TARGET AREA BUILDINGS. COMMUNITY INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES EMPLOYING FINANCIAL, MORAL, AND LEGAL PRESSURE ON OWNERS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND INSURANCE COMPANIES MAY BE PRACTICED AT ALL STAGES OF DETERIORATION. ISSUES WHICH ARISE DURING THE ARSON PREVENTION PROGRAM INCLUDE DISCLOSURE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, DEALING WITH UNRESPONSIVE OFFICIALS, THE LACK OF COOPERATION BETWEEN POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, DEALING WITH ABSENTEE OWNERS AND PROBLEMS OF DELINQUENT TAXES, DEMOLITION, INSUFFICIENT AVAILABILITY OF RELIABLE INFORMATION IN PUBLIC RECORDS, CHALLENGING INSURANCE POLICIES WHICH INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR ARSON, DISINVESTMENT PREVENTION, AND FIRE PREVENTION EDUCATION. APPENDIXES INCLUDE A RESOURCE LIST, PROFILES OF FOUR NACS'S, RECORD FORMS, AND A GLOSSARY.