The National Juvenile Firesetter/Arson Control and Prevention Program
Begun in early 1988. the National Juvenile Firesetter/Arson Control and Prevention Program was initiated to assess and develop promising approaches to help communities deal with juvenile firesetting and arson. Funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the U.S. Fire Administration, this two-and-a-half year study is being conducted by the Institute for Social Analysis (ISA) and the Police Executive Research Forum. Its primary objective is to make available to local jurisdictions information that will help them implement effective juvenile firesetting programs. “These materials were written primarily for the fire service and especially for departments that cannot afford to bring in professionals,” explains Rebekah Hersch, senior research associate at the Institute for Social Analysis and director of the project. The training can be done in house, she adds.
Divided into four phases, the first three stages of the program, which have been completed, involved assessing the juvenile firesetting/arson problem and selected juvenile firesetter programs throughout the nation, documenting the model approaches with regard to their effectiveness for controlling the problem, and developing training and technical-assistance packages to help local jurisdictions implement programs.
Prototypes of successful programs have been developed and will be evaluated at selected sites by the American Institute for Research. Testing of these programs at pilot sites in Colorado, Utah, and Oklahoma began October 1 and will conclude September 30, 1992.
PROGRAM FINDINGS
During the first phase of the project, the following were noted:
- Many of the juvenile firesetter programs surveyed for this study target the less-disturbed curiosity firesetter.
- Four categories of juvenile firerelated behaviors have been identified—fire interest, fireplay, firesetting, and arson —and they can be viewed as a continuum representing increasing levels of involvement with fire.
- Fire interest can begin as early as age three and may continue until age six or seven. Recognizing and detecting fireplay behavior early, coupled with the appropriate remedial steps, can reduce the risk of future restarting incidents.
- Hundreds of juvenile firesetter programs exist today, and they are administered primarily within the fire service (fire marshal’s office, fire department, fire prevention bureau, or arson investigation office).
- Most of these programs identify, evaluate, and treat juvenile firesetters to prevent the recurrence of firesetting. Many of the recently established programs are based on models developed by the U.S. Fire Administration.
The ISA surveyed 158 programs, asking questions about the programs’ goals and services, target audiences, and the number of juveniles served. Seventy programs responded, and 33 were selected for in-depth surveys designed to explore the programs’ unique characteristics. The ISA also conducted two-day site visits to 13 of the most promising programs.
Similarities. Some similarities the ISA found among the programs are the following:
- They were administered and staffed primarily by the fire service.
- They use similar strategies.
- Personnel include firefighters, fire investigators, fire marshals, and fire safety educators; trained counselors and volunteers also are used in some programs.
- The programs consist of combinations of assessment, intervention, counseling, and referral. Structured interviews with children and parents. often based on USFA procedures, are part of the interviews.
- Almost all of the programs provide some fire safety education geared most often to younger children and are focused on such topics as the elements of fire, its use as a tool, and ways to plan escape routes and conduct home fire inspections.
- Some programs provide counseling for youngsters who need it by referring them to professional counseling or therapy sessions. Few’ juvenile firesetter programs, most notably in Dallas and Houston, provide in-depth counseling and use techniques developed by Dr. Eugene Bumpass, a psychiatrist who has worked with youthful firesetters for IS years, which teaches firesetters how to express the negative feelings underlying the firesetting behavior. The goal of this program is to stop firesetting behavior, not to provide in-depth mental health counseling. Firesetters in need of such counseling often are referred to appropriateagencies.
- Nearly all programs refer troubled firesetters to mental health agencies or counseling services, social service agencies, or the justice system.
VARIATIONS AND GAPS
The programs exhibited considerable variations in their methods and effectiveness. These were reflected in following ways:
- They varied in the number and quality of the working relationships established with other community agencies.
- Few programs have involved all relevant agencies and officials in comprehensive planning sessions to win their support from the outset and establish specific responsibilities.
- Although programs may have relationships with one justice agency (e.g. police, prosecutor, court), seldom arc there the formal agreements and working relationships throughout the justice system needed to ensure adequate tracking of all juve-
- nile firesetters. The juvenile justice system tends to deal with the older, more serious arsonist. Although it’s clear that juvenile arsonists should be handled by the justice system, there appears to be no reason for excluding older delinquent arsonists from juvenile firesetter programs.
- Very little information about court-based or correctional facilitybased firesetter programs is available. Questions of w hat happens to firesetters sentenced to youth correctional facilities need to be investigated further.
- Programs also differ in community outreach efforts. Many rely solely on the fire service.
PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS
According to site surveys, most programs report a recidivism rate of usually less than 5 percent; several also show a significant reduction in the number of fires set by juveniles after establishing the programs. Solid data on program effectiveness, however, are scarce because so few programs have the resources to maintain accurate follow-up statistics; even fewer programs have been evaluated. To the extent that these juvenile firesetter programs follow the practices highlighted in the literature, these programs potentially could be one of the rare breed of limited, lowcost interventions that can have a significant impact on the problem.
Success factors. The ISA assessment of juvenile firesetter programs across the nation also has documented the following key elements that contribute to a program’s success:
- Careful planning and coordination between the program and the agencies and institutions.
- A public awareness education campaign to inform the general public about the juvenile arson problem and the program services.
- Accurate screening and evaluation procedures for assessing firesetters’ problems and the appropriate intervention.
- A comprehensive range of services that includes prevention and intervention.
- A broad and efficient referral system between the program and other agencies in the community.
- An effective case-monitoring system for tracking the disposition of juvenile firesetter cases and recidivism rates.
MATERIALS NOW AVAILABLE
Technical assistance and training materials designed to help local fire departments launch a full and effective juvenile arson prevention and control program now are available in draft form and may be ordered from the Juvenile Justice Clearing House at 1 -800-638-8736; ask for Trisha. The materials include the following:
- Volume 1—Guidelines for implementing seven programs, $22.90 each
- Volume 2—Resource materials, including hands-on types, 541.50 each
- Volume 3—User’s Guide for use with Volumes 1 and 2; presents stepby-step instructions on how to find the information $9.60 each
- Volume 4 —Trainer’s Guide $13.10 each
“We can’t ask the fire service to do it all by itself. Fire departments must share community resources. As funds get cut, another avenue must be found,” explains Hersch
References:
Beering, Peter .$. Synopsis 1991 National Arson Forum.
Cain, Travis, program director, OJJDP, phone interview, October 1991.
Data Base Reports, Ruth Gastel, ed. Insurance Information Institute, August 1991.
Hersch, Rebekah K. “A Look at Juvenile Firesetter Programs,” OJJDP -Update on Research, U S. Dept, of Justice, May 1989. Also phone interview. October 1991.
