Methodology of the Study

Purpose of the Study

This research study is part of a series of studies conducted by the National Center for The Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) located at the FBI Academy. The NCAVC was established as a law enforcement oriented behavioral science and data processing center designed to consolidate research, training, investigative and operational support functions for the purpose of providing expertise to any legitimate law enforcement agency confronted with unusual, bizarre and/or repetitive violent crime. The Center is an integral part of the FBI Academy at Quantico, Virginia. The staff of the Center is joined by faculty from major universities, members of the mental health and medical professions, and other law enforcement representatives (NCAVC, 1992).

In 1986, a subunit was established within the Center to study arson and bombings. Representatives from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms joined the Center staff to serve in the Arson and Bombing Investigative Services Subunit (ABIS). This arrangement is based upon a concurrent investigative responsibility with the FBI in these areas. The subunit has conducted a series of studies on serial arsonists (See Icove and Estepp, 1987; Icove and Gilman, 1989; Icove and Horbert, 1990. See also Douglas, Burgess, Burgess and Ressler, 1992). Services provided by the ABIS to other Federal, State, local and foreign law enforcement agencies include investigative techniques and strategies, interviewing strategies, and prosecutoral analyses.

Investigators from the Naval Investigative Service participated in this study with representatives of the NCAVC and ABIS. The purpose was to gain an understanding of arsonists who set fires aboard naval ships to aid investigators and prosecutors.

Research Goals

This project was planned and implemented with several research goals designed to meet specific needs of military investigators and prosecutors. The goals included:

• Identify common characteristics of arsons aboard naval ships.
• Identify common motives and related characteristics of arsonists who set fires aboard naval ships.
• Determine if arsonists aboard ships share common characteristics with other arsonists.
• Determine the extent to which shipboard arsons may be classified in accordance with the Crime Classification Manual for serious crimes developed at the NCAVC. (See Douglas, et al, 1992).
• Identify any related characteristics that would be of assistance to investigators of shipboard arsons.

Research Methods

The research involved the identification of confirmed arsons aboard naval vessels during the period 1983-1991. Confirmed arsons were defined as those where an arsonist had been identified, arrested and convicted of one or more arsons. Unsolved arsons and fires of suspicious or questionable origin were not included in this study. This phase of the research identified 18 arsonists who had set a total of 40 arsons aboard naval ships.

Through the Naval Investigative Service, comprehensive records, including personnel files, case records, courts martial proceedings, and findings of physical evidence were made available for study. A protocol was developed to extract information on 102 variables. The data were then encoded for computer analysis. In addition, a case study summary was developed for each of the 18 arsonists.

The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations to examine relationships between variables. The study involved a population, rather than a sample, since all confirmed arsons in the selected time period were included in the study. Use of a population for a research study has several advantages. Inferential statistics are not required since all differences found in a population study are real differences. External validity is also not a problem since generalizations from a sample are not required. A population study of this type is particularly useful in developing typologies and offense and offender profiles.

Definition of Terms

The following terms are used throughout the report and are defined here to facilitate understanding of the findings and conclusions of the research.

Arson - Arson is the willful and malicious burning of property (Douglas, et al, 1992). The criminal act of arson is divided into three elements (DeHaan, 1991):

1. There has been a burning of property. This must be shown to the court to be actual destruction, at least in part, not just scorching or sooting (although some states include any physical or visible impairment of any surface).
2. The burning is incendiary in origin. Proof of the existence of an effective incendiary device, no matter how simple it may be, is adequate. Proof must be accomplished by showing specifically how all possible natural or accidental cases have been considered and ruled out.
3. The burning is shown to be started with malice, that is, with the specific intent of destroying property (p.324).

Arsonist - A person apprehended, charged and convicted of one or more arsons (Douglas, et al, 1992).

Accelerant - Accelerants are any type of material or substance added to the targeted materials to enhance the combustion of those materials and to accelerate the burning (Douglas, et al, 1992).

Mass Arson - Mass arson involves an offender who sets three or more fires at the same location during a limited period of time (Douglas, et al, 1992).

Serial Arson - Serial arson involves an offender who sets three or more fires with a cooling-off period between the fires (Douglas, et al, 1992).

Spree Arson - Spree arson involves an arsonist who sets three or more fires at separate locations with no emotional cooling-off period between the fires (Douglas, et al, 1992).