NEEDS IN ARSON INVESTIGATION - A SURVEY OF ARSON INVESTIGATORS - EQUIPMENT SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

• NCJ Number: 35140
• Author(s): Q Y KWAN; G C DENAULT
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 39 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-025-73
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Aerospace Corporation
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS OF A BRIEF SURVEY OF ARSON INVESTIGATORS THROUGHOUT THE NATION, CONDUCTED TO ASSESS THE STATUS OF ARSON INVESTIGATION, THE TYPICAL ARSON SCENARIO, AND THE PRIORITY OF PROBLEMS NEEDING TO BE SOLVED.

Abstract

THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY A QUESTIONNAIRE SENT THROUGH THE MAIL, AUGMENTED BY TELEPHONE AND PERSONAL INTERVIEWS. A COPY OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE AND A LIST OF RESPONDENTS ARE GIVEN IN APPENDICES 1 AND 3 RESPECTIVELY. IN ADDITION, A QUERY TO ARSON INVESTIGATORS AT LARGE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE OCTOBER 1975 'FIRE AND ARSON INVESTIGATOR', THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE 2000 MEMBER INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ARSON INVESTIGATORS, TO ALLOW ANY INVESTIGATOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS HIS OPINIONS. THE QUERY IS REPRODUCED IN APPENDIX 2. COMPILATION OF THE SURVEY RESPONSES IS GIVEN IN THE TABLES FOLLOWING THE TEXT OF THIS DOCUMENT. THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SENT TO 27 INVESTIGATORS. EIGHTEEN COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES WERE RECEIVED. THE QUESTIONNAIRE SOLICITED INFORMATION ON THE FOLLOWING AREAS: TYPE OF AGENCY, METHOD OF ARSON DETECTION, FREQUENCY OF CLUE MATERIAL COLLECTION AND SUBMISSION TO SCIENTIFIC LABORATORY, EVIDENCE PRESERVATION, TYPES OF FIRE ACCELERANTS FOUND, MOST COMMON METHODS OF SETTING FIRES, FREQUENCY OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE UTILIZATION, AND PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED IN ARSON INVESTIGATION. BASED ON THE SURVEY RESPONSES, THE REPORT DISCUSSES THE TYPICAL ARSON SCENARIO, AND THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT OF INVESTIGATOR TRAINING, AUTOMATED ARSON DATA SYSTEMS, COOPERATION FROM THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, AND CLARIFICATION OF JURISDICTION OVER ARSON CASES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)