NCJ Number
59438
Date Published
1979
Length
26 pages
Annotation
THIS ISSUE PAPER, THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF BRIEF SUMMARIES OF MAJOR CRIME PROBLEMS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, DISCUSSES THE CRIME OF ARSON.
Abstract
THE PAPER WAS PREPARED BY THE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS CENTER OF THE OKLAHOMA CRIME COMMISSION TO GATHER DATA RELEVANT TO ARSON FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES AND TO DISSEMINATE THAT INFORMATION TO KEY AUDIENCES IN A SUCCINCT FORMAT. THE PAPER DESCRIBES THE VOLUME, TRENDS, RATES, NATURE, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF PERSONS ARRESTED FOR ARSON NATIONALLY AND IN OKLAHOMA. COUNTY-BY-COUNTY STATISTICS REGARDING ARSON ARRESTS IN OKLAHOMA ARE PROVIDED FOR A 4-YEAR PERIOD, AS ARE DATA ON SYSTEM PROCESSING OF ARSON CASES FOR A RECENT 2-YEAR PERIOD. INCLUDED ARE BRIEF DISCUSSIONS OF PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN DESCRIBING THE CRIME OF ARSON AND IN SUCCESSFULLY INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING ARSON CASES. IN CONCLUSION, THE PAPER SUGGESTS SOME BROAD FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH DATA COLLECTION AND STRATEGIES TO HELP ADDRESS THE CRIME OF ARSON IN THE STATE. AMONG THESE IS ESTABLISHING A CENTRALIZED COLLECTION POINT FOR DATA ON ALL FIRES; PROVIDING SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN ARSON DETECTION, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, PROSECUTION, AND CASE LAW FOR ALL FIRE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTORIAL, AND JUDICIAL PERSONNEL WHO ARE LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER ARSON CASES; AND CREATING CENTRALIZED ARSON DETECTION/CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION/PROSECUTION UNITS IN THE STATE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO JURISDICTIONS WHICH CANNOT AFFORD SPECIALIZED PERSONNEL OR EQUIPMENT FOR DEALING WITH ARSON. EXTENSIVE TABULAR DATA, MAPS, AND A LIST OF REFERENCES AND SOURCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MJW)