NCJ Number
126391
Date Published
1988
Length
169 pages
Annotation
The three sections of this manual describe the psychology of adolescence and its relationship to firesetting, methods for collecting information and evaluating potential firesetters, and ways in which fire departments and communities can develop and maintain programs to stop adolescent firesetting.
Abstract
The manual is divided into seven modules; the first discusses firesetting in childhood and adolescence and associations between firesetting and mental illness or juvenile delinquency. Procedures for evaluating adolescent firesetters focus on written information and personal interviews and are examined in the second module by a detailed discussion of conducting evaluation interviews. Guidelines on organizing the information obtained from interviews and making recommendations is outlined in the fourth module. Levels of fire department intervention including detection, evaluation, intervention, and referral are explored in the fifth module. The sixth module outlines various types of fire department and community programs, while the final section examines the social and legal responsibilities of working with adolescent firesetters. 6 appendixes