NCJ Number
98180
Date Published
1985
Length
28 pages
Annotation
These instructions assist citizens in developing the skills of a community arson control specialist, who prepares and presents evidence in civil litigation, as well as in other relevant official forums, to support arson prevention actions.
Abstract
The introduction notes the importance of identifying community conditions and particular building characteristics that make arson or accidental fires likely, so as to have a focus for preventive action. A section on courts and witnesses explains the role of community arson control specialists, who obtain and analyze information about a specific building or person posing a fire threat, information which is presented in court as a basis for preventive civil action. Arson control specialists need expertise and knowledge in fire safety, housing, and insurance and real estate practices. Instruction in the arson control specialist's presentation of findings to the court explains the purpose of the testimony, the structure of its presentation, and the expected outcome (i.e., action to reduce the established arson risk). The discussion then details the information necessary to establish an arson risk, such as prior fires, a building's vacancy, building ownership, lack of building access control, neighborhood economic and social changes, building and housing code violations, the owner's cash flow, and building insurance coverage. Subsequent sections provide guidance in developing testimony and written presentations as well as in structuring the report of arson/fire building risk. The appendix contains a sample arson/fire risk report.