NCJ Number
87562
Date Published
1982
Length
27 pages
Annotation
In 1980 and 1981, Connecticut's demonstration anti-arson project made significant progress toward achieving its major objectives of identifying arson fires more accurately and quickly, providing better investigation and prosecution of arson, and improving management and prevention.
Abstract
In 1980, the first year of the project, investments were made that impacted arson forensic services, training, information systems, prosecution, and prevention. Arrest and conviction rates increased through improved arson identification. New equipment and personnel were added to analyze arson evidence. A comprehensive training program was established, and in the fire incident reporting system, the hiring of a systems analyst should enhance the State's information program. The information system showed improvements in both the quality and volume of reports. The integration and expansion of prosecutor operations has increased capacity to move cases quickly through the courts. Management and technical assistance has helped to move municipalities toward self-sufficiency in arson control and abatement. In 1982, efforts to provide anti-arson training for police, fire, and prosecutorial personnel led a national evaluation team to report that Connecticut is one of a handful of States to institute a comprehensive anti-arson training program. By year's end, a central arson forensic laboratory was fully established, and the State's hiring of special prosecutors for arson cases established vertical prosecution in three counties. The Department of Public Safety transformed a manual information system plagued with reporting inaccuracies and delays into a model fire incident reporting system, and the Justice Commission implemented local arson task forces, helped determine local public policy affecting housing, worked with demonstration cities to implement arson warning and prevention models, and coordinated the activities of four State agencies and six demonstration sites in arson control. Overall, arson arrests tripled, convictions tripled, and arson is no longer considered difficult to prosecute in Connecticut. Graphic and tabular data are provided, along with a report on the type of physical evidence received and analyzed by the State Police Forensic Laboratory.