Why Firefighters Start Fires?

In North Carolina, one firefighter would set fire to an occupied house, and then return to the scene and rescue the family. His need for excitement, being worshiped, and getting attention predominated over any concern about the terrible danger to which he exposed the occupants.

In 2003 the United States Fire Administration released a report on firefighter motivated fires. The report provided statistics of the number of firefighter arson, the effect on the community and methods states are utilizing to recognize and combat potential fire personnel arsonists.

The report also included a profile compiling the common traits exhibited by firefighter arsonists as well a comparison with non fire service arsonists. Traits specific to fire service arsonists were the need to be seen as a hero, to practice extinguishing fires, or to earn extra money. Firefighters that have this desire to be heroes fall under one of six classifications of arsonists labeled as Excitement-motivated.

Firefighters [sic] known to set fires so they can engage in the suppression effort. Firefighter arsonists who seek recognition, or wish to be viewed as heroes, may set and “discover” the fires.

Original Article can be found here Special Report: Firefighter Arson

The prevalence of firefighter arson is unknown as the article points out that there has been little record of how many fires were started by fire service personnel. It was also pointed out that there was little training and awareness of firefighter arson within fire service organizations and that there are very few states are pushing for criminal background checks for fire department membership.

To go so far as to say that fire service personnel should be screened just as law enforcement personnel does not sound impractical. Some may compare corrupt law enforcement officers to firefighter arsonists pointing out that even corrupt law enforcement personnel are able to pass the exhaustive screening processes. But one should realize that the majority (majority should be emphasized as police corruption and fire personnel arson is viewed in a case by case basis) of corrupt law enforcement officers become corrupt due to environmental factors (greed, cynicism, etc.) that influence them after they become sworn whereas the excitement-motivated firefighter arsonists, driven by psychological factors, may be easier to detect through psychological evaluations of hiring process.

Like corrupt law enforcement officials, it should be noted that firefighter arson is serious but it is only committed by small number of individuals compared to many more who do not abuse their privileges.

Lead Led Crime

The University of Cincinnati found a correlation between early-aged lead exposure and higher criminal arrests in adulthood. Children from four prenatal clinics that were born between 1974 through 1984 were monitored by the University of Cincinnati since their birth throughout their adult lives.

Researchers found that individuals with increased blood-lead levels before birth and during early childhood had higher rates of arrest—for both violent and total crimes—than the rest of the study population after age 18.

Approximately 55 percent of the subjects had at least one arrest—the majority of which involved drugs (28 percent) or serious motor vehicle violations (27 percent). The strongest association between childhood blood-lead level and criminal behavior was for arrests involving acts of violence.

Original article can be found here
Research Links Lead Exposure and Criminal Behavior Risk

Though it was mentioned briefly at the end of the article, it should be stressed that the living conditions of children are just as crucial as the methods of their upbringing. This finding should raise the awareness of city officials and citizens alike, as it is plausible that houses with potential lead problems would be found in lower income areas where lower quality houses would be affordable. Clearly the "activities" (drug dealing, prostitution, etc.) associated with lower income areas are not the only influences that lead to crime in Cincinnati. While legislation across the majority of states throughout the United States are aware of the seriousness of lead poisoning and have means to prevent or aid children who have been exposed to led, there is little example of proactive methods that am inform communities. Advertisements (television, radio, etc.) similar to the anti-drug ads would be an effective medium to exemplify the significance of lead poisoning and potential criminality. A more costly and time consuming method (but possibly more effective) would for environmental investigators to visit at risk, low income neighborhoods aiming to isolate and eliminate lead sources.

Criminality Genetic?

The University of Wisconsin-Madison tested whether the deprivation of the enzyme known as monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) is linked to criminal behavior. Earlier tests done by other universities tested that people with low MAO A may be more prone to fearless and impulsive behavior as well as increased serotonin (a neurotransmitter in the brain affecting various aspects in the body including mood and aggression). The University of Wisconsin-Madison referred to the database of an older 1972 study at the Dunedin School of Medicine in New Zealand involving 442 subjects that exhibited anti-social personality behavior when they were children and in their adulthood. Of the 442 subjects studied only 12% (52) had low MAO A. The study found that MAO A was not the only distinctive catalyst to their aggressive behavior, rather the mistreatment that the subjects had undergone throughout their lives was just as a significant factor.

Original article can be found here:
Criminals Share A Common Genetic Flaw

The discovery of the effects of low MAO A appears to give "nurture" the advantage in the never ending "nature versus nurture" debate that continues to play a role in criminologic theory . The fact that there are people with low amounts of MAO A who have not posed any problems in society raises the question whether the environment plays a larger role than what people are born with or without. Clearly the article points out that both environment and genes are significant role-players but one cannot help but question if one player is more influential than the other.