Deck 16: Fire and Explosives: Behavioral Aspects

Question 1

Arson can be committed without intent.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

refer to the sudden conversion of potential energy into kinetic energy with the production of heat, gases, and mechanical pressure.
a. Bombs
b. Explosions
c. Accelerants
d. All of the above

Answer 2

Explosions

Question 3

The intended victim and the target may be one and the same.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of precautionary-oriented fire setting behavior?
a. Setting a fire in an apartment after robbing it
b. Burning a shed to destroy evidence left behind
c. Burning bloody victim clothing
d. All of the above

Question 5

What type of target is selected for emotional, psychological, or precautionary reasons?
a. Individual
b. Group
c. Property
d. Symbol

Question 6

An accelerant can be any fuel---solid, liquid, or gas.

Question 7

The term fire setting is a penal classification used to refer to a certain constellation of criminal behaviors.

Question 8

targeting refers to any fire or explosive that is designed to inflict specific, focused, calculated amounts of damage to a specific target.
a. Broad
b. Narrow
c. Primary
d. Collateral

Question 9

What type of victim suffers loss, harm, injury, or death, by the offender in pursuit of another victim?
a. Intended
b. Targeted
c. Primary
d. Collateral

Question 10

What type of behavior is described by the term arson?
a. The intentional setting of a fire with the additional intent to damage or defraud
b. The unintentional setting of a fire with the additional intent to damage or defraud
c. The intentional setting of a fire with unintentional damage or fraud
d. The unintentional setting of a fire with unintentional damage or fraud

Question 11

There can only be one intended victim.

Question 12

A target is defined as the object of attack from the victim's point of view.

Question 13

A group is defined as any collection of people unified by shared characteristics such as sex, race, color, religion, beliefs, activities, or achievement.

Question 14

The way that an offender chooses to start, or delay, the burning of accelerant or the detonation of a device is referred to as what?
a. Point of origin
b. Motivation
c. Skill
d. Method of initiation

Question 15

When considering the nature and intent of any fire or explosive used by an offender, it is helpful to determine which of the following?
a. Offender skill
b. Motivation
c. Victimology
d. Intentional versus actual damage

Question 16

Fire setting behaviors are limited to use in criminal offenses.

Question 17

Which of the following is highly suggestive of a fire setter's intended target and the intended victim?
a. The type of accelerant used
b. The method of initiation
c. Intent
d. The point of origin

Question 18

Targets of fire setting and explosives include which of the following?
a. Individual people
b. Property
c. Symbols
d. All of the above

Question 19

Which of the following should be taken into account when assessing the offender's skill level?
a. Manufacturer
b. Point of origin
c. Method of initiation
d. All of the above

Question 20

The method of fire setting initiation is dependent on what?
a. The amount of delay time that is desired
b. The mobility of the target
c. The types of fuels or explosives used
d. All of the above

Question 21

The FBI's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime is an example of a deductive offender typology.

Question 22

Define the term target. Explain the difference between a target, an intended victim, and a
collateral victim.

Question 23

List and explain 3 crime scene characteristics that are specific to fire-setting behavior.

Question 24

Arson-related insurance fraud increases during hard economic times in the United States.

Question 25

Explain why offenders engage in precautionary-oriented fire-setting behavior. Provide 3 examples.

Question 26

Case Study
Review the following case and answer the questions below.
In late April of 2010, Robert Drown, Jr., pled guilty to charges relating to the 2007 murders of Jennifer Ison, 31, and her two daughters in Hitchins, Kentucky. Ison and her daughters, Shannah, 10, and Marissa, 3, were found dead inside their burned-out home in May 2007. Jennifer was strangled, Marissa died from smoke inhalation, and Shannah's death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head. Drown, a convicted sex offender, says he also raped Shannah before beating her and setting the home on fire. The convicted sex offender is charged with killing Jennifer Ison and her two young daughters last May, then torching their home to cover up the crime.
Explain the motivation of the fire-setting behavior.

Question 27

Case Study
Review the following case and answer the questions below.
In late April of 2010, Robert Drown, Jr., pled guilty to charges relating to the 2007 murders of Jennifer Ison, 31, and her two daughters in Hitchins, Kentucky. Ison and her daughters, Shannah, 10, and Marissa, 3, were found dead inside their burned-out home in May 2007. Jennifer was strangled, Marissa died from smoke inhalation, and Shannah's death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head. Drown, a convicted sex offender, says he also raped Shannah before beating her and setting the home on fire. The convicted sex offender is charged with killing Jennifer Ison and her two young daughters last May, then torching their home to cover up the crime.
Which victim is likely a collateral victim? Explain.