A Canadian Typology of Arsons

• In Event: Posters I

Abstract

Investigating arson causes problems to police investigators because, most the time, the evidence, which could help identifying the suspect, is destroyed. Considering that the arsonist is accountable for physical, psychological, and financial damages, and to counter for a low resolution rate, developing knowledge on arsonists and their behaviors seems appropriate as this could help linking multiple arsons to a common offender (Canter, & Young, 2009; Santtila, Fritzon, & Tamelander, 2004). Even though typologies based on arsonists and serial arsonists are numerous (e.g., Douglas, Burgess, Burgess, & Ressler, 1992; Geller, 1992; Kocsis, 2004; Rider, 1980; Sapp, Huff, Gary, Icove, & Horbert, 1994), the majority of them are usually not statistically derived typologies. Moreover, most of these typologies are based on data from United States, Australia, or the United Kingdom. None of these typologies has yet been validated using Canadian data. Based on 245 arsons committed by 59 arsonists in the province of Quebec, Canada, the current study tries to fill this gap by identifying profiles of arsonists using Latent Class Analyses (LCA). Finding are discussed in light of the literature on arson and arsonists. Practical implications for arson investigations are also discussed.

Authors

• Justine Collin-Santerre, Laval University

• Nadine Deslauriers-Varin, Université Laval