MFIRS 11MFIRS 11 Arson ModuleArson Module

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ObjectivesObjectives

The participants will be able to:The participants will be able to:

describe when the Arson Module (NFIRS describe when the Arson Module (NFIRS 11) is to be used11) is to be used

demonstrate how to correctly complete demonstrate how to correctly complete the Arson Module given an incident the Arson Module given an incident scenarioscenario

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Purpose of Arson ModulePurpose of Arson Module

““An indispensable tool in the war An indispensable tool in the war against arson is the ability to identify against arson is the ability to identify where the crime takes place, what where the crime takes place, what form it takes, and the characteristics form it takes, and the characteristics of its targets and perpetrators”of its targets and perpetrators”

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Use of Arson ModuleUse of Arson Module

The Arson Module may be used The Arson Module may be used whenever the Cause of Ignition is coded whenever the Cause of Ignition is coded as “intentional” or “under investigation”as “intentional” or “under investigation”

No determination must be made as to No determination must be made as to criminal intent criminal intent oror whether or not a crime whether or not a crime has occurredhas occurred

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Additional Uses Additional Uses of Arson Moduleof Arson Module

The Arson Module may also be The Arson Module may also be used:used:

when the fire is under investigation, or in when the fire is under investigation, or in cases where the cause is “undetermined cases where the cause is “undetermined after investigation”after investigation”

to document juvenile-set fires, whether to document juvenile-set fires, whether determined to be intentional or notdetermined to be intentional or not

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Arson DefinedArson Defined

““To unlawfully and intentionally To unlawfully and intentionally damage, or attempt to damage, damage, or attempt to damage, any real or personal property by any real or personal property by fire or incendiary device”fire or incendiary device”

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A - Header InformationA - Header Information

Header information is repeated Header information is repeated on all modules . . .on all modules . . .

In an automated system, this In an automated system, this information is entered once and information is entered once and imported into all modulesimported into all modules

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B - Agency Referred toB - Agency Referred to

Identifies the agency, if any, the Identifies the agency, if any, the incident was referred to for follow-incident was referred to for follow-up investigationup investigation

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DefinitionsDefinitions ORIORI – – is the unique identification number assigned to law is the unique identification number assigned to law

enforcement agencies participating in the FBI’s Uniform enforcement agencies participating in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system or the National Incident Crime Reporting (UCR) system or the National Incident Based Reporting System (NBIRS)Based Reporting System (NBIRS)

FIDFID – – is a two-character identification number used by is a two-character identification number used by departments to submit crime data to UCR/NBIRS departments to submit crime data to UCR/NBIRS gathered by its dependent bureau/agenciesgathered by its dependent bureau/agencies

– The ORI plus the FID and the incident number The ORI plus the FID and the incident number provide the necessary uniqueness to avoid the provide the necessary uniqueness to avoid the duplication of reported incidentsduplication of reported incidents

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C - Case StatusC - Case Status

Identifies the status of the investigation Identifies the status of the investigation at the time the report was filedat the time the report was filed

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DD - Availability of Ignition - Availability of Ignition

SourceSource

Identifies the availability of Identifies the availability of the ignition source (including the ignition source (including matches and lighters) to the matches and lighters) to the subjectsubject

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E - Suspected Motivation E - Suspected Motivation FactorsFactors

Indicates the suspected factors Indicates the suspected factors that caused the subject(s) to that caused the subject(s) to burn, or attempt to burnburn, or attempt to burn

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F - Apparent InvolvementF - Apparent Involvement

Indicates whether the Indicates whether the suspect(s) was suspect(s) was motivated to commit motivated to commit the arson act because the arson act because of involvement in a of involvement in a group or as a means group or as a means to promote the cause to promote the cause of a groupof a group

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GG11 - Entry Method - Entry Method

Indicates how the offender(s) Indicates how the offender(s) gained access to the propertygained access to the property

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GG22 - Extent of Fire - Extent of Fire

Involvement on ArrivalInvolvement on Arrival

Indicates the fire department’s Indicates the fire department’s observation of the extent of the observation of the extent of the fire’s involvement upon arrivalfire’s involvement upon arrival

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H - Methods/DevicesH - Methods/Devices

Identifies the Identifies the components, components, methods methods and/or and/or devices that devices that were used in were used in the incidentthe incident

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I - Other Investigative InformationI - Other Investigative Information

Identifies other Identifies other investigative investigative information information pertinent to the pertinent to the casecase

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J - Property OwnershipJ - Property Ownership

Identifies Identifies the ownership the ownership of the of the property property involved in involved in the arsonthe arson

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K - Initial ObservationsK - Initial Observations Identifies important initial Identifies important initial

observations made at the incident observations made at the incident scenescene

Provides useful information relating Provides useful information relating to the property’s security status and to the property’s security status and circumvention of security systemscircumvention of security systems

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L - Laboratory UsedL - Laboratory Used Identifies the laboratory, if any, Identifies the laboratory, if any,

that conducted analysis of that conducted analysis of evidenceevidence

Provides the means for the Provides the means for the collection and analysis of collection and analysis of laboratory data associated with laboratory data associated with a specific incident.a specific incident.

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NFIRS 11NFIRS 11 Juvenile FiresetterJuvenile Firesetter

Blocks MBlocks M11 - M - M88 are optional are optional fields to be used if the fields to be used if the person(s) involved in the person(s) involved in the ignition of the fire was a ignition of the fire was a juvenile under the age of juvenile under the age of 18 -- to permit tracking 18 -- to permit tracking and analysis of juvenile and analysis of juvenile firesetter trendsfiresetter trends

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A - Header InformationA - Header Information

Header information is repeated on Header information is repeated on all modules . . .all modules . . .

In an automated system, this In an automated system, this information is entered once and information is entered once and imported into all modulesimported into all modules

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MM11 - Subject Number - Subject Number

A number A number assigned to each assigned to each juvenile subject juvenile subject involved in the involved in the fire’s ignitionfire’s ignition

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MM22 - Age or Date of Birth - Age or Date of Birth

Identifies the age or date of Identifies the age or date of birth of the juvenile identified as birth of the juvenile identified as being responsible for the firebeing responsible for the fire

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MM33 - Gender - Gender

Identifies the gender (sex) Identifies the gender (sex) of the juvenile identified as of the juvenile identified as responsible for the fireresponsible for the fire

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MM44 - Race - Race

Identifies the Identifies the juvenile subject as a juvenile subject as a certain race (based certain race (based on U.S. Census on U.S. Census Bureau categories)Bureau categories)

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MM55 - Ethnicity - Ethnicity Identifies the ethnicity of Identifies the ethnicity of

the juvenile subject the juvenile subject (based on U.S. Census (based on U.S. Census Bureau categories)Bureau categories)

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MM66 - Family Type - Family Type

Information on family Information on family type will assist type will assist researchers in researchers in determining those determining those risk factors that may risk factors that may be a predictor of be a predictor of juvenile firesettingjuvenile firesetting

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MM77 - Motivation/Risk Factors - Motivation/Risk Factors

Identifies the Identifies the stimulus and/or stimulus and/or risk factors that risk factors that were present were present and constituted and constituted a possible a possible motivation for motivation for the incidentthe incident

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MM88 - Disposition of Person - Disposition of Person

Under 18Under 18

Permits analysis Permits analysis of how juvenile of how juvenile offenders are offenders are handled -- is handled -- is particularly particularly useful in useful in tracking tracking juvenile juvenile firesetter trendsfiresetter trends

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SummarySummary The “optional” Arson Module (NFIRS 11) is The “optional” Arson Module (NFIRS 11) is

used whenever the Cause of Ignition is used whenever the Cause of Ignition is coded as “intentional” or “under coded as “intentional” or “under investigation”investigation”

The Arson Module may also be used:The Arson Module may also be used:• when the fire is under investigation, or when the fire is under investigation, or

in cases where the cause is in cases where the cause is “undetermined after investigation”“undetermined after investigation”

• to document juvenile-set fires, whether to document juvenile-set fires, whether determined to be intentional or notdetermined to be intentional or not