MFIRS 11 Arson Module

MFIRS 11Arson Module

Objectives • The participants will be able to: • describe when the Arson Module (NFIRS 11) is to be used • demonstrate how to correctly complete the Arson Module given an incident scenario

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

Use of Arson Module • The Arson Module may be used whenever the Cause of Ignition is coded as “intentional” or “under investigation” • No determination must be made as to criminal intent or whether or not a crime has occurred

Additional Uses of Arson Module The Arson Module may also be used: • when the fire is under investigation, or in cases where the cause is “undetermined after investigation” • to document juvenile-set fires, whether determined to be intentional or not

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

A - Header Information • Header information is repeated on all modules . . . • In an automated system, this information is entered once and imported into all modules

B - Agency Referred to • Identifies the agency, if any, the incident was referred to for follow-up investigation

Definitions • ORI – is the unique identification number assigned to law enforcement agencies participating in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system or the National Incident Based Reporting System (NBIRS) • FID –is a two-character identification number used by departments to submit crime data to UCR/NBIRS gathered by its dependent bureau/agencies • The ORI plus the FID and the incident number provide the necessary uniqueness to avoid the duplication of reported incidents

C - Case Status • Identifies the status of the investigation at the time the report was filed

D- Availability of Ignition Source • Identifies the availability of the ignition source (including matches and lighters) to the subject

E - Suspected Motivation Factors • Indicates the suspected factors that caused the subject(s) to burn, or attempt to burn

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

G1 - Entry Method • Indicates how the offender(s) gained access to the property

G2 - Extent of Fire Involvement on Arrival • Indicates the fire department’s observation of the extent of the fire’s involvement upon arrival

H - Methods/Devices • Identifies the components, methods and/or devices that were used in the incident

I - Other Investigative Information • Identifies other investigative information pertinent to the case

J - Property Ownership • Identifies the ownership of the property involved in the arson

K - Initial Observations • Identifies important initial observations made at the incident scene • Provides useful information relating to the property’s security status and circumvention of security systems

L - Laboratory Used • Identifies the laboratory, if any, that conducted analysis of evidence • Provides the means for the collection and analysis of laboratory data associated with a specific incident.

NFIRS 11Juvenile Firesetter • Blocks M1 - M8 are optional fields to be used if the person(s) involved in the ignition of the fire was a juvenile under the age of 18 -- to permit tracking and analysis of juvenile firesetter trends

A - Header Information • Header information is repeated on all modules . . . • In an automated system, this information is entered once and imported into all modules

M1 - Subject Number • A number assigned to each juvenile subject involved in the fire’s ignition

M2 - Age or Date of Birth • Identifies the age or date of birth of the juvenile identified as being responsible for the fire

M3 - Gender • Identifies the gender (sex) of the juvenile identified as responsible for the fire

M4 - Race • Identifies the juvenile subject as a certain race (based on U.S. Census Bureau categories)

M5 - Ethnicity • Identifies the ethnicity of the juvenile subject (based on U.S. Census Bureau categories)

M6 - Family Type • Information on family type will assist researchers in determining those risk factors that may be a predictor of juvenile firesetting

M7 - Motivation/Risk Factors • Identifies the stimulus and/or risk factors that were present and constituted a possible motivation for the incident

M8 - Disposition of Person Under 18 • Permits analysis of how juvenile offenders are handled -- is particularly useful in tracking juvenile firesetter trends

Summary • The “optional” Arson Module (NFIRS 11) is used whenever the Cause of Ignition is coded as “intentional” or “under investigation” • The Arson Module may also be used: • when the fire is under investigation, or in cases where the cause is “undetermined after investigation” • to document juvenile-set fires, whether determined to be intentional or not

MFIRS 11 Arson Module