Reference no: EM132276389

Discussion :

Honestly, I found this week a little challenging. I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the actual question here. I think I finally understand it, processing the readings was a little different than usual. I guess that is part of the learning process though. Not everyone will understand everything. Anyways, without further ado, here is my post.

There is a difference between arson against property and arson again a specific individual. Many offenders have different motives and reason's for committing the crime of arson. Arson is defined as starting a fire with intent of harm. In the past Arson has caused "higher looses than fires from other causes" (Attacking the Violent Crime of Arson, 2004).

Although a decent amount of incendiary fires have been connected to different needs (economic relief or just plain excitement)that are not so personal, a substantial amount are because somebody wanted to inflict harm on another person, using fire as their weapon of choice. There is no question that arson is not a violent crime, especially when targeting a victim.

Arson presents a challenges with forensic evidence collection because most of the forensic evidence is destroyed in the incident. Fire is powerful and can burn away much evidence as long as it has been burned for long enough.

There has been success with firefighters and investigators determining the cause of fire, but it is easier to establish the cause when the fire was an accident. Preplanned fires (arson) with the intent to destroy a place or individuals is usually harder to dissect.

If a person is committing this crime, they will usually take steps to hid the evidence that can be used against them, thus making it more difficult to "build a case" against them. It can be difficult to distinguish arson as a property crime and arson as a crime against a person. Investigators and forensic scientists have developed many methods to help counter this threat.

-Haley

References

Attacking the Violent Crime of Arson. (2004). U.S. Fire Administration, 1-72.

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