Paper Summary:

This paper examines the crime of arson and the various victims that a fire started with malicious intent will affect. First the author discusses the different organizations that must cooperate for an arson investigation to be successful. Next, the author describes how officials know if a fire was set with intent. The potential motives for starting a fire are also analyzed, such as arson for profit or for revenge. The paper outlines how an arson interview is conducted by investigators. The paper concludes with a call for better training, equipment and cooperation in order to combat the epidemic that is spreading.

Ignorance or Malice?
Motive & Opportunity

From the Paper:

"Once the fire is out, the investigation starts. There are usually two types of ways that a fire starts: one is ignorance which is an accident and the other is criminal which is malicious and therefore arson. According to Brady (1982), "...Arson is becoming one of the most destructive and profitable crimes in the country" (p.249). There are many victims that occur once a fire is started with the malicious intent. Individuals, whole communities, real estate companies, banks, insurance agencies, law and fire departments are all affected in one way or another from this crime. In 2009, Swanson, Chamelin, Territo, Taylor, concluded, "Arson is an inherently difficult crime to detect and prosecute, in part because the motivations for and methods of committing arson vary widely" "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Brady, James P. (1982). Arson, Fiscal Crisis, and Community Action: Dialectics of an Urban Crime and Popular Response. Crime Delinquency, 28,247-270. Retreieved February 21, 2009, doi:10.1177/001112878202800205
• Crime Data: Arson Statistics. (2004, July). FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 73(7), 11. Retrieved February 21, 2009, from Research Library database. (Document ID: 672910501).
• Fletcher, Connie (1991). Pure Cop: Cop Talk from the Street to the Specialized Units-Bomb Squad, Arson, Hostage Negotiation, Prostitution, Major Accidents, Crime Scene. New York: Villard Books.
• Petherick, Wayne., Kennedy, Daniel B., Homant, Robert., Turvey, Brent., McGrath, Michael., Norris, Gareth., Lowe, Andrew., Field, David., Fry, Elizabeth., Goldworthy, Terry., Brogan, Ross., (2006). Serial Crime: Theoretical and Practical Issues in Behavioral Profiling (Wayne Petherick, Ed.). Burlington, MA: Academic Press. Retrieved February 17, 2009, from http://www.myilibrary.com.ezproxy.apus.edu?id=75428.
• Sandercock, P. (2008, April 7). Fire investigation and ignitable liquid residue analysis--A review: 2001-2007. Forensic Science International, 176(2/3), 93-110. Retrieved February 21, 2009, doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.09.004

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