1. CHAPTER 6 Criminal Investigative Analysis: Arson
Introductory Criminal Analysis: Crime Prevention and Intervention Strategies
CHAPTER 6
Criminal Investigative Analysis: Arson
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

2. Introduction
One of the oldest crimes known to man, arson has been practiced since after the discovery of fire.
Warren G. Woodfork
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

3. Arson Investigation: Classification
Natural
Accidental
Incendiary
Suspicious
Unknown
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

4. Must prove corpus delicti:
Crime of Arson
Must prove corpus delicti:
Body of the crime
Prove every legal element of offense
Arson
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

5. 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.
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

6. Three Basic Types of Arson
Serial
Mass
Spree
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

7. Criminal Investigative Analysis
Resolution of
arson cases
Links to
offender
Examination of
nonphysical evidence
Information
flow
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

8. FBI Crime Scene Arson Personalities
Organized
Disorganized
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

9. Arsonist Motivation Excitement Revenge Profit Vandalism Crime
concealment
Extremist
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

10. Exceptions and Mixed Motivation
Possible combinations
to presented
typologies
Remain
flexible
Open to
exceptions
Motivation
may change
or evolve
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

11. Serial Arsonist: General Typology
Those who persist after
age 19 become more
frequent offenders
Prior felony and
misdemeanor
arrests
Juvenile
Male
Caucasian
Incarcerated in
local and state
institutions
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

12. Field Trip
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

13. Vandalism-Motivated Arsonists
Combination of
motivations
Motivated
by vandalism
Malicious
mischief
Excitement
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

14. Excitement-Motivated: General Typology
Payoff comes when fire
engines and crowd gather
Seeking thrills
Attention
Recognition
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

15. Excitement- Motivated Arsonist Sub-classifications
Excitement-thrills
Excitement-attention
Excitement-recognition
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

16. Revenge-Motivated: General Typology
Seeks retribution
Revenge common motive
Has grudge
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

17. Revenge-Motivated: Four Sub-classifications
Group-retaliation
Societal-retaliation
Institutional-retaliation
Personal revenge
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

18. Extremist-Motivated Arsonist
Impose doctrine on others
Social, political
Religious dogma
Extremist values
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

19. Crime-Concealment Arsonists
Burglary, auto theft,
fraudulent business records
Coverup primary
crime
Find opportunity
to coverup
crime
Murder
Arson is secondary
or collateral
criminal activity
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

20. Profit-Oriented Arsonist
Destroying unprofitable
inventory
Property
liquidation
Monetary gain
Insurance
fraud
Dissolving a
business
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

21. Defraud insurance companies
Professional-Torch
Defraud insurance companies
Enterprise
organized
crime
Increases in
down
economy
Co- conspirators
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

22. May be rare or nonexistent
Pyromania
DSM-IV: impulse
control disorder
Impulse,
drive, temptation
To harm
a person
May be rare or nonexistent
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

23. Arson Equation Arson + Circumstantial Evidence =Conviction
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker

24. Successful Arson Investigations
Conclusion
Successful Arson Investigations
Highest priority
Early intervention
Critical to community safety
PRENTICE HALL
©2005 Pearson Education, Inc.
Introductory Criminal Analysis
Thomas E. Baker