An exploratory and inferential analysis of fire cause relative to the crime of arson and its documentation

Abstract

The validity of statistics for fires resulting from arson is questionable. The question arises from methods used to collect fire incident data. Fire, police, and organizations associated with monitoring arson consider it an under-reported crime. It is a crime of questionable arrest rate, prosecution, and adjudication. Consequently, statistics could be skewed, biased, or absent from published, arson incident rates. The statistical flaws commence with discretionary reporting methods and parochial data collecting procedures by agencies and associations monitoring the crime. An exploration of reporting methods, perpetrators, victims, and law enforcement's investigation of arson was undertaken. The examination included how variables of socio-economics may enter into a community's exposure to arson. The exploration gives insight into the crime and establishes need for further examination of the problem. Associated to the question of valid arson statistics is a review of literature related to the subject. The research presents questions to methods used to acquire fire cause statistics. The literature review presents reasoning for researching the crime. Validation of data obtained from police and fire agencies included Chi-square testing. The purpose was to establish correlation and validity to the variables found during exploration of the subject.