NCJ Number
59338
Date Published
1979
Length
295 pages
Annotation
THIS HANDBOOK FOR FIRE INVESTIGATORS, FIRE AND POLICE OFFICERS, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, AND INSURANCE EXECUTIVES EXAMINES THE PROBLEM OF ESTABLISHING IN COURT THE ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF AN INCENDIARY FIRE.
Abstract
BEGINNING WITH THE DEFINITION OF ARSON, THE TEXT COVERS MOTIVES AND INTENT, BASICS OF COMBUSTION AND FIRE SPREAD, INTERAGENCY COOPERATION IN ARSON INVESTIGATION, CONVICTION AND PREVENTION, FIRE SCENE EXAMINATION, CORPUS DELICTI, EXPLOSIONS, PHOTOGRAPHY AND SKETCHING FIRE SCENES, THE WITNESS, INTERROGATION, AND THE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT. THE BOOK--WHOSE INFORMATION IS BASED UPON WORK ON FIRE SCENES AND WITH EXPERTS WHO HAVE PRACTICAL FIRE AND LABORATORY EXPERIENCE--INCLUDES A DISCUSSION OF THE LAW OF ARSON, A JUSTIFICATION FOR SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ARSON INVESTIGATION, AND A CONSIDERATION OF FIRE SCENE INVESTIGATION AND THE FOURTH AMENDMENT. COMMON MOTIVES FOR ARSON ARE CITED AS FINANCIAL GAIN SUCH AS BURNING INSURED PROPERTY, BURNING TO BREAK A LEASE, INTIMIDATION, BURNING TO COVER THEFT, EMBEZZLEMENT, COVERING ANOTHER CRIME, AND REVENGE. ARSON CAN ALSO BE THE RESULTING BEHAVIOR OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS OR JUVENILE BOREDOM. IT IS A DIFFICULT CRIME TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE SINCE EVIDENCE IS OFTEN DESTROYED BY THE BLAZE OR ACCIDENTALLY BY THE INVESTIGATORS THEMSELVES, AND WITNESSES ARE OFTEN SCARCE OR UNAVAILABLE. TO AID INVESTIGATING OFFICERS, THE HANDBOOK PRESENTS AN ARSON INVESTIGATION CHECKLIST (LEAVING THE FIRE SCENE PREMATURELY WITHOUT CHECKING FOR THE ITEMS LISTED OR WITHOUT ARRANGING FOR SUPERVISION, CAN RENDER THE INTEGRITY OR ACCURACY OF THE EVIDENCE SUBJECT TO QUESTION), A DISCUSSION OF ACCIDENTAL CAUSES OF FIRE TO ASSIST IN DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF A DELIBERATELY SET FIRE, ITEMIZED PROCEDURES FOR FIRE SCENE INVESTIGATION, AND NUMEROUS PHOTOGRAPHS. THE APPENDIX INCLUDES A CLASSIFICATION OF FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS, FLAME TEMPERATURE ESTIMATES, AVERAGE SURFACE TEMPERATURES OF STANDARD LIGHT BULBS IN OPEN SOCKETS, DATA ON METAL COLOR AND MELTING OF CERTAIN BURNING MATERIALS, AND CALCULATIONS IN FIRE LOADING FOR COMMON OCCUPANCIES. A GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (DAG)