NATIONAL PROBLEM OF ARSON, APRIL 28, 1977 (FROM ARSON-FOR-PROFIT - ITS IMPACT ON STATES AND LOCALITIES, P 6-12, 1977 - SEE NCJ-67274)

• NCJ Number: 67275
• Author(s): M E GRIMES
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, THE JUDICIARY, AND SOCIAL AGENCIES MUST COMBINE THEIR EFFORTS TO FIGHT AN ARSON PROBLEM THAT HAS GROWN IN THE U.S., ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF FRAUDULENT INSURANCE CLAIMS.

Abstract

THE PATTERN AND INCIDENCE OF ARSON CAN BE LINKED BOTH TO THE ECONOMY AND TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS, A TREND NOTED IN THE DEPRESSION YEARS OF THE THIRTIES, SOCIAL UNREST IN THE LATER SIXTIES, AND ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES IN THE SEVENTIES. PUBLIC ATTITUDES HAVE REMAINED SOMEWHAT APATHETIC, WHILE MOTIVATIONS FOR ARSON HAVE INCREASED, INCLUDING, PRIMARILY, FRAUD, COVER OF OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, REVENGE, PROTEST, VANDALISM, AND COMPULSIVE FIRE-SETTING. BECAUSE OF THE WIDE RANGE OF MOTIVATIONS, THE RANGE OF ARSON PERSONALITIES IS ALSO GREAT, REPRESENTING A CROSS-SECTION OF SOCIOECONOMIC STRATA. ADDITIONALLY, ARSON OFFERS DETECTION, INVESTIGATIVE, AND PROSECUTORY DIFFICULTIES. ARSON REQUIRES MAJOR INVESTIGATIVE RESOURCES, TRAINED AND QUALIFIED INVESTIGATORS, SOPHISTICATED AND FIRE-RELATED FORENSIC LABORATORIES, CLEARLY DEFINED RESPONSIBILITY FOR ARSON INVESTIGATION BETWEEN FIRE AND POLICE AGENCIES, LAWS RELATING SPECIFICALLY TO ARSON, AND SUFFICIENT PUBLIC ATTENTION. WITH RESPECT TO THESE REQUIREMENTS, EVERY FIRE FIGHTER SHOULD BE TRAINED IN INITIAL ARSON DETECTION. STATES AND MAJOR CITIES SHOULD INCREASE FUNDS FOR INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTION, AND PREVENTION (E.G., THROUGH SECURITY AND INVESTIGATION), AND FOR QUALIFIED ARSON INVESTIGATORS AND ARSON INVESTIGATION BUREAUS. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR INVESTIGATORS SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED AND ENFORCED, AND TRAINING OFFERED FOR INVESTIGATORS. REGIONAL CRIME LABORATORIES SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH APPARATUS DESIGNED TO ASSIST IN ARSON INVESTIGATION. JOINT INVESTIGATION SQUADS SHOULD BE RECLASSIFIED AS A PART I CRIME. THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY SHOULD RECEIVE REASONABLE RELIEF FROM TIME REQUIREMENTS IN SETTING CLAIMS WHEN ARSON MIGHT BE INVOLVED. FINALLY, ARSON PREVENTION CAMPAIGNS AND VISIBLE DETERRENTS SHOULD BECOME A PART OF ALL LOCAL FIRE AND CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS. (MHP)