Definition of a Man-Made Disaster - Assignment Example

? Intervention/Prevention Grant Application Report (ARSON) 0 Summary Page This proposal was aimed at reviewing the extent to which ARSON threats and impacts around the world persists, and measures that should be taken to eliminate the impacts. It focused on data that was already gathered from primary or even other secondary sources. The proposal provided ready data for analysis and most importantly, the data sources that are always varied. In this work, reviews of already done proposal were carried out to determine human caused disaster such as arson and its impacts. Due to its effects on people living around the affected areas, it has devastating consequences. In fact, if not managed properly, it can result to massive destruction of property and death. Its management depends on quick response and efficient intervention mechanism to put it off. For those affected with arson, especially the ones who sustain minor serious burns, they have to undergo multi-faceted care involving maintenance medications, regular physical and laboratory examination, and rehabilitation, if necessary. The proposal outlined the main objective of the study, and then stated the purpose of the proposal and rationale. This was followed by stating the research strategy of the proposal in an analytical perspective. The overall strategy and methodology to be used in the proposal was discussed, thereafter; the paper presented the potential problems and alternative strategies followed by elaborate remedial actions for non-compliance then a conclusion. It also noted that the problem of increase in weight is on the rise, and that the courses ranged from smoking cigarettes in restricted areas or intentional setting of fire. 2.0 Introduction Arson pose a great and real environment challenge around the world, and the problem is on the rise thereby leaving environment officials and the government to look into the ways of containing the occurrence of such disasters. Remarkably, campaigns are carried out in many countries to educate the people on the best behavioral habits that may prevent them from causing fires. There has been effort to pass legislations to help deal with the rise arson cases such as banning smoking in or near forests, petrol stations and other designated zones. Moreover, a proposal on causes of fires leads to the issue of prevalence rate. Environment facilities for fire fighting were equipped to ensure that the fire fighters are able to deal with emergency cases, either from an extreme end of the disaster or the non extreme. On the other hand, it was pleasing to note that all these efforts have resulted into some steps in as far as changing behavioral habit is concerned. Consequently, the risk of arson is on the declining trend. In the research, it was found that different governments and non-governmental players make efforts to carry out campaigns in their countries to raise awareness of the problem, its effects and how people can avoid causing devastating fires. These campaigns were also carried out in collaboration with the environment department of the country. 3.0 Specific Objective and Facts of the Proposal 3.1 Objectives The main objective of the proposal was to establish the relevance of the people’s knowledge concerning arson, and establish the specific ways in which people manage the disaster (Keedy, 2007). The other objective of the proposal was to identify the extent to which the governments and other organizations help in managing the situation. The other objective of the proposal was that it was explore a set of ideas from other scholars concerning the topic in question. Psychologists have argued that arsonists suffer from mental disorder (Bartol & Bartol, 2007). The other objective of the proposal was to be to determine a worldwide environment practices that was help eradicate the increasing cases of arson, and be able to provide the necessary and modern information about environmental management and communication tools (Bartol & Bartol, 2007). Due to the growing nature of this disaster in terms of the resources needed to manage it, the other objective of this proposal was to evaluate the advantages of the involvement of management, other technical staff and the general population with the intention to meet the dire needs of the people living around the affected areas (Burton et al., 2012). 3.2 Crime Rate (Arson) According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report Program data on Arson, 56,825 arsons were reported in the year 2010 by 15,475 law enforcement agencies within a period of 12 months (FBI Uniform Crime Report Program, 2010). Out of the 56,825 agencies of law enforcement, 14, 747 gave expanded offense data about 48,619 arsons. Arsons that involved structures accounted for 45.5% of the total arson offenses with mobile property involving 26% and the other types of property accounting for 28.5% (FBI Uniform Crime Report Program, 2010). The average estimation of dollar lost because of arson in the year 2010 was given to be $17,612. The highest average dollar losses came from arsons of manufacturing or industrial structures, which averaged at $133,717 per arson. However, on a positive note, the arson offenses decreased or reduced 7.6% compared with the data of the year 2009. The nationwide arson offenses stood at 19.6 arson offenses for every 100,000 inhabitants (FBI Uniform Crime Report Program, 2010). Based on population group (arson per population number), the FBI categorized arson rate per group with over 250,000 and above group recording a rate of 32.4, 100,000 to 250,000 recording a rate of 21.7 with the rate reducing subsequently alongside the reduction of population numbers (FBI Uniform Crime Report Program, 2010). 4.0 Research Strategy of the Project 4.1 Purpose Statement and Rationale The purpose of the proposal was to establish the causes and increasing cases of arson around the world. In addition, the extent to which it affects the people around the world was to be established, looking at individual cases. The proposal sought to determine whether the rate of arson cases increases with rise of one’s psychological status. Individual response to the disaster was also to be looked into. 4.2 Rationale/Significance The main reason for carrying out the proposal was the increase in the number of arson cases in the world, and sought to address this environment challenge, which posed danger to a majority of the world population (Burton et al., 2012). The main importance of the problem was that it provided intervention mechanisms to counter the disaster. In other words, there were justifications of the need for the proposal, which was due to the sensitivity of the disaster that it addressed, and therefore, the proposal was necessary and in good time. Notably, arson is committed by either adults or young people, but the arrests of adults have been reported to be on the decline with the children forming a larger percentage of arson arrests. Some of the major causes of arson committed by adults include financial embezzlement and insurance fraud owing to the hard economic times that make the arsonists perceive insurance payouts as a way of making a lot of money. The other cause is hiding of evidence or covering tracks. The popular phrase “torch the evidence” is often related with arsonists who use fire to cover up crimes such as murder, fraud, or theft (Pettiway, 1987). In cases involving embezzlement, a perpetrator may use fire to burn the company records hoping that the fire will actually hide the indiscretion. The proposal included the following three sub topics; the meaning of arson, which addressed details of its meaning (Pettiway, 1987). Secondly, People’s knowledge of arson, which on the other hand, sought to establish people’s understanding about the problem (Pettiway, 1987). Finally, Attempts made to contain it were to be considered, and addressed relevant ways to deal with the situation was also examined in this proposal. Indeed the proposal sought to determine whether the rate at which arson cases increased depended on one’s psychological status (Pettiway, 1987). The differences in people’s psychological condition was found to be on the rise and was expected to continue increasing around the world, yet there were barriers to intervention mechanisms that the proposal sought to address (Burton et al., 2012). Past studies have shown that the disaster was more in men. It means that any attempt to establish the prevalence of the disaster around the world ought not to be gender biased as women also caused some reported arson cases. Studies have also shown that the causes and distribution of fires greatly affected people around the world and was neither inclined to the urban, forests nor to the rural areas. All attempts to reduce the number of fires and its impacts to the people around the world were more welcome (Pettiway, 1987). The proposed project was to improve scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or environmental and psychological practice in a number of aspects. This was why experts attributed arson cases to the psychological status of the people regardless of age, sex, employment, social, and cultural factors (Singer & Hensley, 2004). Whereas some scholars attributed arson to economic desperation of an individual, others argue that the disaster is as a result of poor behavioral habits and a consequence of psychological problem. However, other scholars have argued that one’s psychological status did not merely cause arson, and that the underlying factors could revolve around the person’s intention (Singer & Hensley, 2004). Indeed, the argument was considered true since it was not easy to establish an arsonist’s psychological status since some of them disappear immediately after committing the act. Furthermore, the weakness of proposal was attributed to the fact that some of the methodologies used were subject to manipulation (Maxfield & Babbie, 2008). For example, the use of verbal methodology, where it was through canvassing that the information required was received affected the outcome. Canvassing, for instance could lead to automatic fooling of an individual through pretense, meaning that the required information may not be received in time and with utmost good faith. There was an argument that the prevalence rate of arson around the world increases with age, and asserted that as an individual grows, his consumption increased, thereby increasing the overall psychological status, a situation that might affect his or her behaviour. This was a major contributor to the causes of fires. Some scholars have argued from the socio-demographic aspect of a person might affect his/her psychological status, thus lead to such problems (Singer & Hensley, 2004). The argument was based on the idea that there are different social classes, and that most of people who are causing fires are of a lower social class, perpetuating a given interest either their own, or from those in a higher class. The idea also stresses the view that the demographic trends or population character had a lot of concern to play in the quest for knowledge the causes of fires and its prevalence (Winster, 2007). However, this claim was criticized by those scholars who base their argument on the level of education that the people living around the affected areas had (Singer & Hensley, 2004). Basically, the concepts, methods, technologies, management services, or preventative interventions that drive this field was changed if the proposed aims were to be achieved. Here, the concept of intervention indicated that the information for this search was obtained from the internet after logging into the website of an organization that reviewed the various proposals that were carried out. From the review of one of the proposals carried out by Del Bove & Mackay (2011), it revealed that intervention on arson was determined by the effectiveness of its management in children, the following was observed (p. 802). On methodology, the researcher employed qualitative and quantitative methods in carrying out the study. Technological approaches such as the application of computerization and software were used in conducting the study. Management services or intervention mechanisms to encounter the disaster was evaluated in the study. 4.3 Innovation The application challenges and need to shift current research or environmental and psychological practice paradigms were also be evaluated during the study. In essence, innovation normally involved the identification and pursuit of unique concrete findings from proposal and applying them in daily work so as to improve the quality of the people living around the affected areas care. The aim of the proposal was to provide the people living around the affected areas with cost efficient and high quality information regarding intervention mechanisms to counter such problems (Maxfield & Babbie, 2008). Analysis was carried out to determine the role played by proposal to help the people living around the affected areas. In this respect, various methods were used to gather information for a conclusive evidence based program implementation. Theoretical concepts in gathering the problematic information included taking the observable perspective of the problem on the ground. This was taken through checking the influencing indicators and the trends of the proposal sample. The information was explicit in various intervention measures put forward as well as the areas with the gaps to be filled. Direct interview was another form of getting the formation needed by the proposal on the topic of the proposal. To some extent it was a better proposal approach since as more information are given primarily and with the victims (Winster, 2007). The methods applied were logically questioned and given the best approach in answering. Questionnaire was a useful data collection instrument that was utilized during the work. Other instrumentation was included the use of journals, books and internet services. Apart from the literature reviews are also evidence based center of studies as well Intervention guidelines. All psychological experts need this information for the success of an organization in implementing programs in respect to quality work as well as the best standards. In cases of children arsonists, the information given by the proposal showed the current trends, the intervention measures and possible future intervention measures to eliminate such occurrence (Winster, 2007). The intention of the proposal was to give the best environment care services to people living around the affected areas and to improve the medical line. In addition, different studies were carried out to develop these ideas. Experts carrying out intervention mechanisms were likely to face myriad challenges in their work environment regarding information they received as they made improvements in the disaster control (Maxfield & Babbie, 2008). Data information offered a lot of challenges in arson reduction and management when it occurred. Some of the problems faced by data records used by the psychological experts included the following outlines. Information inadequacy, psychological experts in some organizations found a lot of difficulties getting efficient and effective data to give them the information needed. Due to dynamic nature of environment care provision, psychological experts do undergo problems of acquiring continual training as well as getting outdated data which thwarted their performance (Del Bove & Mackay, 2011). At times, data given by the proposal might be poor. This was as a result of nonprocedural data handling mechanism or unavoidable errors caused by changes in psychological and demographic patterns. Unqualified proposals caused errors in the data type they produce. The errors occurred either from collection of data, evaluation or interpretation of their information (Maxfield & Babbie, 2008). The result led to improper implementation of programs and poor focus on psychological experts’ service delivery during fire fighting or management. 4.5 Approach 4.5.1 Overall Strategy A phenomenological design was appropriate since this study aimed to determine the experiences of people regarding arson management by residents occupying the affected areas. In addition, the method to be used in conducting this study was qualitative, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews that were undertaken between specified periods (Hall, 1998). The proposal was also considered the strength of the anticipated design; this was followed by nonrandomized and controlled samples and also observation. 4.5.2 Methodology and Data Collection. In doing this proposal, several qualitative and quantitative techniques were suitable, but the proposal found it necessary to use random sampling method, questionnaires and personal interview. Considering the first case, random sampling, the samples were taken in various towns and rural communities (Del Bove & Mackay, 2011). Each sample size was estimated at five square kilometers, and in each sample, psychological status of different people was examined, and findings recorded. The second method involved the use of questionnaires. Here, each structured questionnaire was given to individuals, who were to answer all the questions and then return the duly completed forms. This method was most welcome because it guaranteed confidentiality of the issues to be addressed by the project (Del Bove & Mackay, 2011). Finally, personal interviews were randomly conducted and findings established. In this method, both open-ended and close-ended questions were asked, and responses recorded. Open-ended questions are those questions which do not require definite answers; where as closed-ended questions are those which required definite answers. 4.5.3 Potential Problems Limitation of resources was a very big issue to the psychological experts (Hall, 1998). When there was a problem with the resources like finance, workforce, raw materials and time span, executing duties becomes impossible even when the best proposal model was applied. This hindered the activities of psychological experts in helping of the people living around the affected areas. 4.5.4 Alternative Strategy Purposive sampling in this proposal was an alternative strategy used to obtain data from arsons living around the affected areas. Participants, and their relations with the proposals, were well-described. Based on this description, the samples were applicable to answer the proposal question (Hall, 1998). The information provided was adequate to understand the conduct of the proposal. 5.0 Typical Arson Perpetrators The deadly offense of arson is spreading in the U.S at an alarming rate, leaving the entire city neighborhoods overwhelmed in its waste. A number of studies have indicated that the typical arson perpetrators are mainly the juveniles and to some extent the psychologically challenged persons. Nonetheless, due to the increasing number of planned arson attacks, the issue of intent has broadly featured in this context. Del Bove and Mackay (2011) in their article argue that in as much as a number of studies have examined the group differences between the non-fire setting children and the fire setting children, specific profile about the juvenile fire setter has not come up. This might not seclude them on the debate about fire setters, despite their contribution being significant. However, five different categories of fire setters have been suggested, which include the unintentional or accidental, the erotic, the delusional, the child, and the revenge fire setter or intentional. A study conducted by Pettiway Leon (1987) on arson for revenge, showed that demographic variables such as age, sex, and race together with the offender’s residency place environmental character would determine the likelihood of offenders committing arson (p. 172). The analysis of this particular study indicated that important racial and age differences affected the likelihood of an individual using fire as retaliatory weapon. From the year 1987 to the year 1996, there was a 36% net increase reported in the arrests of juvenile for arson and a decrease of 17% in the arrests of adults committing arson (Pettiway, 1987). Not only do the juveniles constitute a large share of all the arson arrest, but analysis further indicates how young most of these offenders are in terms of age (Hall, 1998). In regard to age, the children and the juvenile age group form the typical fire setters or arson perpetrators with the male gender being more likely to commit arson than the female gender (Pettiway, 1987). However, the environmental situation of the place of residence of an offender seems to condition the relationship found between race and age with retaliation. The social economic status accustomed by poverty plays a vital role given that it can lead to coercive methods in early childhood (Pettiway, 1987). 6.0 Remedial Actions for Non-Compliance The proposal expects sought to establish an estimated number people around the world whose activities and irresponsible behavior might cause unprecedented fire. Secondly, the proposal expected to find out that the economic status of individuals plays a role in determining weight. Thirdly, the proposal expected to find out that those people with excessive weight was not doing physical exercise or work that would help reduce their weight (Bartol & Bartol, 2007). In addition, the proposal sought to establish whether more educated people are not causing fires as compared to those with little education. Finally, the proposal expected to find out the people responsible for causing such fire whether they were found in urban or rural areas. It was noted that the implication of the first expected finding is that, a higher percentage of people living around the world, who cause fires are virtually non-compliant and have psychological problems (Pettiway, 1987). The implication of the second expected finding was that, those people from high income class were taught on the importance of environmental concerns. The third expected finding was that there ought to be measures to inform people on the importance discouraging arson (Bartol & Bartol, 2007). In addition, the implication of the forth expected finding is that there was a concerted effort to educate those people living in rural areas on the importance of reducing fire. Finally, the implication of the sixth expected finding implies that the less educated was taught behavioral ethics, thereby reducing their chances of having excess weigh. 7.0 Conclusion In conclusion, arson comes at a result of a number of factors, which include smoking and unnecessary lighting of fire, and this may be accidental or intentional. It means that any attempt to establish the prevalence of the disaster in most parts of the world ought not to be gender biased since the act can be committed by anybody. Indeed, the specific cause of arson sometimes cannot be well known, especially when it is done intentionally. References Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2007). Criminal Behavior: A Psychosocial Approach. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.  Burton, P. et al. (2012). Firesetting, Arson, Pyromania, and the Forensic Mental Health Expert. Journal of the American academy of psychiatry and the law, 40 (3), 355-365. Del Bove, G., & Mackay, S. (2011). An Empirically Derived Classification System for Juvenile Firesetters. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 38 (8), 796-817. FBI Uniform Crime Reports Program. (2010). Arson. Retrieved from Hall, J. R. (1998). The Truth About Arson. NFPA Journal, 92 (6), 59-67. Keedy, E. R. (2009). Criminal Procedure in Scotland. Journal of the American Institute of Criminal Law and Criminology, 3 (5), 728-753. Maxfield, M., & Babbie, E. R. (2008). Research Methods for Criminal Justice and Criminology. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Pettiway, L. (1987). Arson for Revenge: The Role of Environmental Situation, Age, Sex, and Race. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 3 (2), 169-184. Singer, S., & Hensley, C. (2004). Applying Social Learning Theory to Childhood and Adolescent Firesetting: Can it lead to Serial Murder? International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 48 (4), 461-476. Winster, O. L. (2007). Criminology Studies and the Criminal Intent. Sydney: Pearson. Read More