PROPOSAL TO DESIGN, DEVELOP, AND IMPLEMENT THE ARSON INFORMATION CENTER FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCHANGE, EDUCATION, TRAINING, PUBLIC AWARENESS

• NCJ Number: 53917
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 28 pages
• Corporate Author: Battelle
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN ARSON INFORMATION CENTER IS PROPOSED TO MEET OHIO'S NEED FOR INFORMATION COLLECTION AND DISSEMINATION TO PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL AND FIREFIGHTERS, VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS, AND THE PUBLIC.

Abstract

THIS STUDY WAS INSTIGATED WHEN THE OHIO FAIR PLAN UNDERWRITING ASSOCIATION COMMISSIONED A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF PRESENT ACTIVITIES RELATING TO ARSON. INFORMAL INTERVIEWS WITH CONCERNED PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD WERE CONDUCTED TO ASSESS CURRENT NEEDS IN ASSESSING ARSON. FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS WERE SURVEYED, AND IT WAS FOUND THAT ONLY 2.2 PERCENT OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS HAD ARSON INVESTIGATION UNITS AND ONLY 2.5 PERCENT HAD MANDATORY TRAINING FOR ARSON INVESTIGATORS. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR QUICK RESPONSES TO ARSON-RELATED QUESTIONS. FURTHERMORE, IT IS FELT THAT VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS, WHICH MAKE UP ABOUT 92 PERCENT OF ALL FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, HAVE THEIR OWN PARTICULAR NEEDS. TRAINING AND INFORMATION MUST BE MADE AVAILABLE TO BOTH THE PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATOR AND TO PERSONNEL WHO MUST RECOGNIZE THE POSSIBILITY OF ARSON SO THAT AN INVESTIGATION MAY BE INITIATED. AN ARSON INFORMATION CENTER IS PROPOSED. THIS CENTER SHOULD HAVE THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES: (1) INFORMATION COLLECTION, ORGANIZATION, AND DISSEMINATION; (2) ENHANCING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING; (3) ASSISTING PROFESSIONALS IN DEVELOPING SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAMS; (4) IDENTIFYING GAPS IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF ARSON; (5) ANSWERING SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FROM PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS; AND (6) IDENTIFYING TRENDS IN CASES OF ARSON. SPONSORS ARE EXPECTED TO BENEFIT FROM THE CENTER THROUGH BETTER IDENTIFICATION OF ARSON, LEADING TO FEWER INSURANCE CLAIMS; BETTER RESPONSE TO CRIMINAL ARSON; IMPROVED INFORMATION RESOURCES FOR PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF PROGRAMS; DEVELOPMENT OF BETTER TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR ALL CATEGORIES OF PERSONNEL; AND BETTER TREND IDENTIFICATION, LEADING TO BETTER IDENTIFICATION OF ARSON CASES. TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A MINIMUM OF 13 SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS AT $20,000 EACH BE INVOLVED. FIGURES ARE INCLUDED. NO TABLES OR BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MLC)