2. Profiling Serial Arson Charles L. Feer, JD, MPA Department of Criminal Justice at Bakersfield College

3. Arson Willfully and maliciously sets fire to, burns, or who aids in such, of any structure, forest land or property. Unlawfully Causing a Fire: Recklessly setting a fire. Arson may be committed against one’s own property if with the intent to defraud. (I.e. Insurance) FOR MORE INFO. P.C. 451

4. Arson 60,000 Arsons in 2010 8,806 Arrest for Arson in 2010 40% under age 18 23% under age 15 (little shits)

5. Serial Arson defined: Individuals who intentionally set three or more separate fires. May arsons by serial offenders go unsolved. Variety of offenders, with a variety of motivations and mental disorders.

6. “Forms” of Arson Organized Crime Insurance / Housing Fraud Commercial Residential Psychological

7. Arson “Motives” / Types Vandalism Excitement Revenge Crime Concealment Profit

8. Juvenile Fire-starters Less than 18 years old. Textbook says 49.1% 50% of Juveniles start fires for “Vandalism.” “Revenge” to get back at authority or someone. “Peer Group Status.” “Excitement”

9. Juvenile Fire-starters Often set fires within 1 mile to their home. Usually accompanied by friends and peers (potential informants.) Half will remain on scene to watch firefighting activity. Often will engage in other criminal behaviors: Cruelty to animals, robbery, forced rape, assault, weapons violations.

10. Adult Fire-setters Two basic Motivational / Behavioral features: Expressive (emotion, i.e. anger) Instrumental (financial gain, to hide another crime) Look at target: –Objects (schools, vehicles, businesses) –Specific people (symbolic or emotionally significant)

11. Action System Model Expressive Theme – “the best way to deal with others.” (Symbolic / Emotional) Integrative Theme – Offenders of a history of mental disorders, suicide attempts. Attention seeking behavior.

12. Action System Model Conservative Theme – Affecting a person significant to the offender. i.e. a failed relationship. (May also be a hostage taker.) Desire for personal revenge. Adaptive Theme – Getting attention but does not display mental disorders. (Covers up another crime.)

13. Adaptive Theme example: Attention seeking -Firefighters / Arsonists Setting “nuisance fires” (grass, brush, dumpsters) in the firefighter’s primary area of responsibility, and then being one of the first to respond. “Eager” / “Hero” Sets bigger fires (abandoned vehicles, unoccupied structures.) John L. Orr

14. Pyromania (Expressive) Psychotic - Delusional Multiple deliberate fires set. Demonstrated high amounts of aggression. - Usually unmarried. - Have extensive criminal histories for assaultive behavior. Emotional relief from setting fires. (Irresistible impulse to set fires.) “Impulse Control Disorder”

15. Arson Profile Quiz Name the “Motive” (1) Fire set to a school, on a Thursday afternoon. A group of teenage males were seen running away before the fire was reported. These same teenagers were seen while firefighters suppressed the fire. Witnesses report they think the teenagers live nearby.

16. Arson Profile Quiz Name the “Motive” (2) Community has transitioned from an “all volunteer fire company” to a city employed fire department. 12 new firefighters have been hired. Almost immediately, several small fires of been set every other day. Then no fires for a week. Then several fires again. No injuries.

17. Arson Profile Quiz Name the “Motive” (3) Fire to a single family residence. Occupant is a divorced single female who is employed fulltime as a secretary and dispatcher for an oil field service company. She reports that she recently broke up with her boyfriend. Significant damage. No injuries.

18. Arson Profile Quiz Name the “Motive” (4) Vehicle fire. After fire was extinguished, a body was discovered in the back seat. Subsequent autopsy shows that the body was dead prior to the fire.

19. Arson Profile Quiz Name the “Motive” (5) A “club house” at a proposed golf course was burned. It is well known that the developers were having difficulty getting the financing to complete the project. There was no utility running to the structure. Structure is a complete loss. No injuries. Several Points of origin.

20. Profiling Serial Arson Dr. Charles L. Feer Department of Criminal Justice at Bakersfield College