Introductory Criminal Analysis:
Crime Prevention and Intervention
Strategies
CHAPTER 6
Criminal Investigative Analysis:
Arson
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introduction
One of the oldest crimes known to man,
arson has been practiced since after the
discovery of fire.
Warren G. Woodfork
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Arson Investigation:
Classification
Natural
Accidental Incendiary
Unknown
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Thomas E. Baker
Suspicious
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Crime of Arson
Must prove corpus delicti:
 Body of the crime
 Prove every legal element of
offense
Arson
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Common Law Legal Requirements
of Arson
Willing and malicious burning
Of a dwelling house
Burning of a building within the
curtilage
Malice and willfulness mean
deliberately without justification or
or excuse.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Three Basic Types of Arson
Mass
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Thomas E. Baker
Serial
Spree
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©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Criminal Investigative Analysis
Resolution of
arson cases
Links to
offender
Information
flow
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Examination of
nonphysical evidence
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©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
FBI Crime Scene Arson
Personalities
Organized
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Disorganized
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Arsonist Motivation
Profit
Crime
concealment
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Excitement
Vandalism
Revenge
Extremist
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©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Exceptions and Mixed Motivation
Possible combinations
to presented
typologies
Remain
flexible
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Open to
exceptions
Motivation
may change
or evolve
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Serial Arsonist: General Typology
Those who persist after
age 19 become more
frequent offenders
Juvenile
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Male
Caucasian
Prior felony and
misdemeanor
arrests
Incarcerated in
local and state
institutions
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©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Field Trip
http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/d
estroyed-in-seconds-arsonblast.html
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Vandalism-Motivated Arsonists
Combination of
motivations
Motivated
by vandalism
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Malicious
mischief
Excitement
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Excitement-Motivated:
General Typology
Payoff comes when fire
engines and crowd gather
Seeking thrills
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Attention
Recognition
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©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Excitement- Motivated Arsonist
Sub-classifications
Excitementrecognition
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Excitementthrills
Excitementattention
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©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Revenge-Motivated:
General Typology
Has grudge
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Seeks
retribution
Revenge
common
motive
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©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Revenge-Motivated:
Four Sub-classifications
Group-retaliation
Personal
revenge
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Thomas E. Baker
Societalretaliation
Institutional
-retaliation
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©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Extremist-Motivated Arsonist
Impose doctrine on others
Extremist
values
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Social,
political
Religious
dogma
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©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Crime-Concealment Arsonists
Burglary, auto theft,
fraudulent business records
Find opportunity
to coverup
crime
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Murder
Coverup primary
crime
Arson is secondary
or collateral
criminal activity
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©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Profit-Oriented Arsonist
Destroying unprofitable
inventory
Monetary gain
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Insurance
fraud
Property
liquidation
Dissolving a
business
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Professional-Torch
Defraud
insurance
companies
Coconspirators
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Enterprise
organized
crime
Increases in
down
economy
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Pyromania
DSM-IV: impulse
control disorder
May be rare
or
nonexistent
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
Impulse,
drive,
temptation
To harm
a person
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©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Arson Equation
Arson + Circumstantial Evidence =Conviction
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Conclusion
Successful Arson Investigations
Highest priority
Early intervention
Critical to community safety
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.