Comparing the characteristics of firesetting and non-firesetting offenders: are firesetters a special case?

Abstract

This study investigated unique risk factors for firesetting in a population of deliberate firesetters (n = 207) who appeared before courts between 2004 and 2009. It aimed to investigate differences between firesetting and non-firesetting offenders and determine whether offenders with only arson offences (exclusive) differed from those with more versatile (firesetting and other offence types) offending careers. Four-way comparisons were made between non-firesetters, exclusive firesetters, predominant firesetters and mixed firesetters. The demographic, criminological and clinical characteristics of firesetters were compared with a random sample of non-firesetting offenders using information from court files. The findings suggest that deliberate firesetters and other offenders are similar on key characteristics, although firesetters are more likely to be unemployed and to have a greater prevalence of psychiatric disorders. When comparing exclusive firesetters with the other groups, few differences emerged, including the incidence of past firesetting. It was concluded that firesetters are mostly versatile offenders, and this pattern of offending is associated with greater levels of criminogenic need than exists among non-firesetting offenders.

Keywords:

• arson
• firesetting
• comparative
• risk factors
• characteristics
• versatility

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Associate Professor Rebekah Doley for her contribution to the conceptualization of this project, and the Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council for their invaluable assistance with identifying cases.

Notes

1. Arson is a legal term defining the crime of deliberately and/or malicious setting of fires. Pyromania is a diagnostic label to describe pathological firesetting. Elements of the diagnosis include: deliberate and purposeful firesetting on multiple occasions; an inability to resist setting fires; extreme interest in fire-related paraphernalia; increased tension or arousal before the act followed by an intense relief once committed; a lack of other motives or gain (for example, monetary gain, crime concealment, socio-political expression or anger or revenge); and is not better characterized by another disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). In this article, the term firesetter will be used as it describes people who intentionally set fires regardless of motivation, pathology or legal status.