CHAPTER O Flashcards
- The misunderstanding of arson can be attributed to what factors
- Lack of public educating concerning arson.
- A reluctance for prosecutors to file arson cases that rely on circumstantial evidence.
- Quick payments on fire loses.
- A lack of adequate training for investigators.
- What is the height cost crime on a per basis incident.
2. What does the majority of arsonists involve.
- Arson
2. The burning of a structure
- What happens at arson scenes
2. Why is arson difficult to establish.
- The crime scene aren’t recognized and much evidence is destroyed
- No witnesses.
- Physical evidence is difficult to locate
- Valuable evidence is destroyed in the blaze.
- If the crime is executed properly. It is difficult to determine the point of origin.
- Often the victim of the fire is the one who set it
- What are the two categories of arson
- Aggravated arson.
2. Simple arson
Aggravated arson.
Deliberate burning of property while creating an imminent danger to human life or risking great bodily harm
Simple arson
A lesser offense. Is the burning of property. That does not result in such a risk to human life.
- What is the role of the fire department while investigating an arson
- To determine cause and origin
- Who are the majority of firemen
2. What are they trained in and not trained in
- Volunteer
2. They are trained in suppressing fires. Not investigating them
- When is a suspicious fire usually discovered.
- What is the fire departments role at that point 3
- What does the fire Dept NOT investigate.
- Why not
- When the arson becomes a question of who committed the crime who handles it
- While it’s being extinguished.
- Extinguish the fire
- Investigate the origin of the fire
- Detect the possibility of arson.
- The arson.
- The fire department does not have legal authority to investigate arson fires. Just assist in it.
- The police.
- What is the investigator role when investigating an arson
- What is the goal of the investigator
- The police investigator has a stationary role.
- Identity the perp
- And secure evidence to prosecute
- What is the key for an investigator to do while investigating an arson
10
- To connect the suspect with the crime scene. Regardless of motive
- What is the first step in an arson investigation.
2. Why is this important
- To determine the point of origin.
2. Because it rules out natural or accidental causes
- Where is most of the crucial evidence located at an arson scene
- At the point of origin.
- What can tell if a fire was set intentionally
2. What is accelerant
- By finding an accelerant
2. A chemical which causes the fire to burn hotter snd and spread more quickly making it difficult to extinguish
- What are the most common types of accelerant 4.
2. What are two ways to discover accelerant in an arson
- Gasoline.
- Kerosene
- Turpentine
- Diesel fuel.
- Sniffer dog
2 and the headspace gas chromatography
- What should be taken at the scene of an arson.
- Why.
- What should be focused on
- Photographs.
- To record of the condition of the scene
- Rags
- Large amounts of paper.
- Cans.
- Empty receptacles.
- Identifying plants and trailers can provide clues. What are plants
- What are trailers
- Plants.- preparations used to set the fire. These include newspapers , rags, and other flammable waste materials.
- Trailers. - materials used in spreading the fire. These include gunpowder , rags soaked in flammable liquid, and flammable liquid such as gasoline , kerosene and alcohol.
- What 4 things also may help indicate the fire is suspicious.
- Flames.
- Smoke.
- Size of fire
- Odors.
- How does flame color help
- How does color of smoke help
- How does size of flame help
- How do odors help
- What should investigators use at an arson scene
- If flame that is a blue - orange flame represents burning alcohol.
- Black smoke indicated the material is made with petroleum base.
White smoke indicates vegetable matter is burning, such as hay or straw. - Structures engulfed in flames in a short time may indicate arson
Flames of natural origin burn in definable patterns.
So fires burning quickly or in an odd direction will indicate an accelerant. - Orders of gasoline , kerosene, and alcohol should be noted.
- Their OLFACTORY SENSES.
- What are motives for arson
5
- Profit.
- Revenge.
- Vandalism.
- Crime concealment
- Pyromania
- What is the most common motive for arson
- Who commits the most arson for vandalisms
20
- Profit
2. Juveniles
- What is pyromania
- A person who is a compulsive fire starer. And gains sexual stimulation by starting and viewing fires
- What can compulsive fire setting be classified as. 3
- Mass arsonist.
- Spree arsonist.
- Serial arsonist
- Mass arsonist.
- Spree arsonist.
- Serial arsonist
- Sets 3 or more fires at the same location
- Sets fires at three or more separate locations , with no cooling off period.
- Sets three or more separate fires with a definate fooling off period in between them.