INVESTIGATING ARSON INCENTIVES.

This article focuses on police investigation of the crime arson. The reason for an incendiary fire may be any one of the motives for arson. The general classifications of motivesfor arson set forth by Dr. R. C. Steinmetz in his book Arson in Times of War were outlined in the article. The reason, motive or incentive is not an essential element of the crime of arson. Therefore, it is not necessary to prove the motive in order to convict the arsonist, according to a law. Intent is an essential element of the crime of arson, but motive is not. Intent involves the will of the doer and indicates the willful, malicious nature of the burning. Motive involves the desire rather than the will and is the occasion which results in the act. In the investigation of a fire, the motive or possible motive will often influence the investigator in conducting his investigation. Records may not only serve to indicate the incentive for a fire, but the destruction of the records may indeed be the reason for the fire. In fraud fires, it is always necessary to consult records and often to produce them in court in order to convict the arsonist. It would be a very unusual case wherein a conviction for a fraud fire is obtained without the assistance of records.