Arson and Youth - Essay Example

ARSON AND YOUTH INTRODUCTION: Arson is defined as a malicious act according to which the property of other people is deliberately destroyed by fire with an intention to cause harm. According to this definition there are four important aspects that complete the definition of arson. They are: Setting up a fire- Fire is an essential component of arson. If there is no fire there is no arson. Some legal definitions also include the lighting of explosive devices as a part of arson. Deliberate motive- There has to be a willful lighting of fire. Accidental and natural fires are not included in the definition of arson. Mischief/ Malice- The fire must be set up through malicious act. Any willful lighting of fire for positive or legitimate reason does not come under the definition of arson. Property- There has to be an object or some property which is damaged through malicious act (Bush fire Arson Bulletin, 2004). Arson has been quite a common crime. Surprisingly its rate is high among youth. About one in four fires is set up intentionally and more than half of these cases involve youth under the age of 18 (Focus Adolescent Services, 2000). In this paper I aim to discuss arson in relation with youth. I will explore the relevant literature for a detailed analysis of the topic. Towards the end I would like to point out some of the interventions related to the topic. YOUTH AND ARSON: Arson is a serious crime since it destroys property, kills and injures people and creates unrest in the neighborhoods. Arson is the leading cause of fire in the United States. Approximately 28% of all fires are attributed to arson (Arson in the United States, 1997). According to the statistics provided by the FBI youth arson cases account for almost half of all those who are arrested for arson. These statistics have remained the same for the ninth consecutive year (Focus Adolescent Services, 2000). In 2003 approximately 51% of those arrested for arson were youth under the age of 18. Approximately one third were under fifteen and three percent were under ten years of age. Several studies have been carried out to find out the relationship between youth and arson. It is quite common among children to show interest in playing with fire. For many children this interest in fire play leads them to the act of arson. This behavior can become a habit which makes it a criminal activity (Focus Adolescent Services, 2000). Approximately 60% of the inmates of California Correctional Facility reported arson activities in their youth. Often the age group was under ten years and the first targets were trash cans (Arson in the United States, 1997). Although most of the children do not start fire with malicious intention still the economic and human damage it causes is devastating. It has been estimated that the youth arson is responsible for 300 deaths and 2000 injuries annually and approximately $300 million property damage and approximately 400,000 incidents annually. Juveniles can be arrested for the act of arson. However several factors are considered before arresting a child for arson. These include the age of the child, his history in relation to fire setting and the intention behind fire setting. Although the legal definitions of arson are different in different states, if a child is found guilty with malicious intention for setting up a fire he/ she can be charges with the crime of arson (Focus Adolescent Services, 2000). Sex: It has been studied that boys are more attracted towards fire plays as compared to girls. In a study carried out on the relationship between gender and arson it was found out that 82% of the males were involved in arson as compared to the 18% girls. The ratio of male / female arson stands at 9:1. However the rate of arson is on the rise among females as well (Zipper and Wilcox, 2005). CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUTH INVOLVED IN ARSON: It has been studied that majority of youth involved in arson are between the age of 14-18 (Schwartzman et al, 1998). Youth are divided into three groups on the basis of their relationship with fire setting. The first group involves children under seven years of age. There are mostly boys in this group. These boys are involved in arson either accidentally or out of curiosity. The second group comprises of children between 4-12 years of age. In this group also most of the children start fire out of curiosity or by mistake. At the same time it has been studied that most of the children belonging to this group start fire due to some psychological reasons. Many start fire for getting attention and they continue to do so till their problems are taken care of. The last group comprises of youth between 13-18 years of age. Youth in this group have strong history of fire setting activities. Their involvement in the act is either due to psychological problems or due to willful intention of criminal activity. They also have a history of failing or dropping out of school, behavior problems and are very easily influenced by their peers (Focus Adolescent Services, 2000). Family problems have been considered to be the strongest reason for arson in youth (Schwartzman et al, 1998). Several studies have been carried out on the characteristics of youth involved in arson. Curiosity: As already mentioned above majority of the youth start arson out of curiosity. The phase in which they are leaving their childhood and entering the adult world is the most difficult one for the youth where they are attracted towards the activities of adults. Approximately 40% of all children are attracted towards fire play (Schwartzman et al, 1998). Family problems: Family problems are another factor. Any change in the family which is not acceptable to youth can lead them towards criminal activities. These changes may include death, divorce or separation, lack of attention or attachment or abandonment. Problem of alcohol or drug abuse in the family also contribute towards criminal behavior. Arson is five times common among youth belonging to those families where children are neglected and where parents are involved in alcohol or drug abuse (Schwartzman et al, 1998). Behavioral Problems: Majority of the youth involved in arson have a history of behavioral problems. These problems include lying, stealing, missing school, fighting, showing cruelty towards animals and minors and substance use (Schwartzman et al, 1998). Other Characteristics: Other minor characteristics of youth involved in arson include bed wetting, physical, emotional and sexual abuse, not accepting the responsibility of their actions or putting the blame on others, poor family and social relations and lack of empathy (Focus Adolescent Services, 2000). Low self esteem and humiliation can also lead to arson (Zipper and Wilcox, 2005). Involvement in such criminal activities actually satisfies the conflict that is going on inside them. At the same time it brings out the aggressiveness, anger, distress, frustration and anxiety from them. Many youths have reported that they started fire playing because they had nothing to do and were simply bored. Such youth when confronted with situations where they could not find a solution to their problem start fire setting to give an emotional outlet to their suppressed feelings (Zipper and Wilcox, 2005). ROLE OF ADULTS: Timely intervention can always be helpful. Parents need to play a major role in pulling their children out of such psychological problems that lead to criminal activities such as arson. According to a survey carried out by Delaware Program it was stated that in houses where children got involved in arson “parents (were) gone a lot”. More than half of the youth were involved in arson when there was no adult to supervise and more than a quarter of the reported cases showed youth suffering from actual neglect. Special instructions should be given to the children about the consequences of fire building and if possible children should be left with some adult for their supervision (Arson in the United States, 1997). A number of youth intervention programs have provided assistance to youth involved in arson. Adults must seek assistance of such programs in order to over come the problem of arson among youth. CONCLUSION: Youth are the future of any nation. It is the duty of everyone to save our future from turmoil. Arson among youth is on the rise and so are the factors that led youth towards arson. It is the duty of the adults to give proper attention to their youth in order to overcome the problem of arson. References: “Arson in the United States”, (1997). TriData Corporation, Virginia. Retrieved on April 15, 2008 from http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/arson.pdf “Focus Adolescent Services”, (2000). Retrieved on April 15, 2008 from http://www.focusas.com/Firesetting.html Schwartzman, P., Stambaugh, H., Kimbal, J. (1998). “Special Report: Arson and Juveniles, Responding to the Violence, A Review of the Teen Fire settings and Interventions”, (1998). Homeland Security, Retrieved on April 15, 2008 from http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/tr-095.pdf “What is Arson?”, (2004). Bush Fire Arson Bulletin, Australian Institute of Criminology, Retrieved on April 15, 2008 from http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/bfab/bfab001.html Zipper, P., Wilcox, D.K. (April 2005). “Juvenile Arson, The Importance of Early Intervention”, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation, Volume 74 Number 4. Retrieved on April 15, 2008 from http://www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/2005/apr2005/april2005leb.htm#page1 Read More