![]() Overall marital adjustment and life histories of serial arsonists were poor, suggesting that they lacked stability in interpersonal relationships. Findings revealed that most serial arsonists were young white males 58.7 percent of fires were set by offenders before 18 years of age, and 79.7 percent were set before 29 years of age. Records of nearly 1,000 incarcerated arsonists were also reviewed. A sample of 42 subjects representing one eastern and one western State was interviewed during the 1978-1980 period, while a second sample of 41 subjects in several different State correctional systems was interviewed during the 1990-1992 period. Data were obtained on attributes, characteristics, motives, and life history patterns of 83 serial arsonists who agreed to participate in the study. Serial arson was defined as an offense committed by firesetters who set three or more fires with a significant cooling-off period between fires. Data tables, photographs, and 12 footnotes. The FBI and the county fire department plan to continue the research effort, which is using the most comprehensive data base available for these types of offenses. ![]() Offenders often lived close to the crime scene, were accompanied by other persons, and returned to the crime scene later. The use of alcohol, drugs, or both appeared to loosen an offender's inhibitions at the crime scene. However, females committed many offenses to seek revenge. Juveniles generally committed crimes for excitement and vandalism, while adults tended to commit offenses for revenge or crime concealment. The motives included vandalism (49 percent), excitement (25 percent), revenge (14 percent), other (8 percent), crime concealment (2 percent), and profit (1 percent). Computer-assisted analysis by the FBI's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime has developed statistically significant offender profiles based on the motive for the crime. The offenses included 504 arrests for arson 303 for malicious false alarms 159 for violations of laws related to fireworks, explosives, or bombings and 50 for miscellaneous offenses. The data base consists of 1,016 interviews (conducted by fire department staff) of juveniles and adults, most of whom were arrested between 19. Research by the FBI using data from arson cases in Prince George's County, Md., has produced profiles of the different types and motivations of offenders involved in arson and other fire-related crimes. Findings suggest that the synthesizers hold the highest promise for prediction and prevention but generate the most strident opposition. Synthesizers attempt to interpret data from disparate sources to draw inferences about criminal plots before such schemes can be implemented by the conspirators. Watchers seek to know the location of individuals because they are persons of interest. ![]() Scanners constantly look for information generally or for a specific investigation. The systems are conceptualized as three types. Six types of systems cited as major tools in terrorism prevention are critically examined here: (1) regional emergency response networks (2) the FBI DCS1000 (3) Echelon, an electronic interception system (4) terrorism watch lists, (5) the multi-state anti-terrorism information exchange (MATRIX) and (6) the Terrorist Information Program (TIP). Based on the 20-20 hindsight of the 9-11 Commission, many believe a combination of technologies and data bases can allow law enforcement and intelligence investigators to identify potential terrorist plots, use a multitude of data bases that contain hidden patterns of information about transactions needed to execute plots, and then mount pre-emptive strikes to stop their plans. As with other endeavors, the promise of technology is no less bright for anti-terrorism, which is concerned with stopping terrorist acts before they occur.
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