NCJ Number
58366
Editor(s)
J T DUNCAN,
M CAPLAN,
M KRAVITZ
Date Published
1979
Length
69 pages
Annotation
ARSON--THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM, PROACTIVE MEASURES AND CONTROLS TO PREVENT ARSON, AND REACTIVE MEASURES AND CONTROLS ON ARSON CRIMES--IS THE FOCUS OF THIS BIBLIOGRAPHY WITH ABSTRACTS.
Abstract
ARSON, THE WILLFUL AND MALICIOUS BURNING OF PROPERTY, HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY IN RECENT YEARS. DATA PUBLISHED FOR THE YEARS 1965-1975 REFLECT AN INCREASE IN INCENDIARY BUILDING FIRES OF 325 PERCENT. ARSON IS A DIFFICULT CRIME TO COMBAT. AN INVESTIGATION MUST BE CONDUCTED EVEN BEFORE THE FACT CAN BE ESTABLISHED THAT ARSON WAS COMMITTED. ARSON CASES ARE CHARACTERIZED BY THE LACK OF WITNESSES AND THE DEVASTATION OF THE CRIME SCENE AND VALUABLE EVIDENCE. MOTIVES FOR ARSON ARE VARIED--OFTEN REVENGE, SPITE, JEALOUSY, INTIMIDATION, AND CRIME CONCEALMENT--BUT MORE AND MORE, ARSON IS BEING COMMITTED BY PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS FOR PROFIT. THE COST ($1.4 BILLION IN 1975) IS BORNE PRIMARILY BY INSURANCE COMPANIES, BUT INDIRECTLY BY THE PUBLIC THROUGH INCREASED INSURANCE RATES AND TAXES. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS COMBATING ARSON WITH A VARIETY OF ACTIONS, ONE OF THE MOST NOTABLE BEING THE ADDITION OF ARSON TO THE SEVEN SERIOUS OFFENSES REPORTED IN THE FBI UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS INDEX. THIS BIBLIOGRAPHY FOCUSES ON ARSON AND PROVIDES LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS WITH A RESOURCE THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE METHODS USED TO PREVENT AND INVESTIGATE ARSON. THE 89 CITATIONS ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS: (1) THE IMPACT OF ARSON AND STUDIES OF THE CHARACTERISTICS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILES OF ARSONISTS; (2) ATTEMPTS TO PREVENT AND CONTROL ARSON THROUGH SUCH STRATEGIES AS SPECIAL TASK FORCES, PATTERN ANALYSIS, AND INTERAGENCY COOPERATION; AND (3) STUDIES OF ARSON INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES AND FIRE SCENE ANALYSIS. ALL THE DOCUMENTS ARE SELECTED FROM THE NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFERENCE SERVICE DATA BASE WITH PUBLICATION DATES BETWEEN 1975 AND 1979. INFORMATION ABOUT SALES SOURCES AND MICROFICHE AVAILABILITY IS PROVIDED.