Understanding The Arsonist: From Assessment To Confession

Within the last year an estimated 16,000 people were arrested for arson and law enforcement agencies have reported over 70,000 arson offenses to the FBI. Whatever the numbers involved, what is indisputable is that arson in hurting the US economy, insurers and policyholders. On average, half of all fires are arson. These crimes, which threaten human life as well as cause property damage, largely go unpunished and the offending behaviour is often untreated. Written for fire and police investigators, criminal justice professionals and mental health professionals, this book provides insight into the types of individuals who become arsonists.

This book offers a look at the common misunderstanding about the reasons individuals set fires and the research that influenced it. Written by Dr Dian Williams, owner and founder of the Center for Arson Research, the text will provide the latest qualified research into arsonist behavior. The Federal Government recognizes her as one of only six arson research fellows in the United States. This text is the only complete collection of her extensive research into firesetting, gathered through interviews with actual or suspected firesetters, analysis of the data and clinical interpretation of the findings. You’ll learn about six specific physcological profiles of firesetters, their motivation for setting fires and the types of fires they set.

Topics include: • Firesetting history • Identifying an Arsonist • Interrogation Strategies • Recent research and studies • Arsonist motivation • Actual interviews with arsonists • Types of fires • The Experimental or Curiosity Firesetter • The Delinquent Firesetter • The Though-Disordered Firesetter • The Revenge Firesetter • Thrill Seeker Firesetters • The Disordered Coping Firesetter • Risks for arson