Preliminary Steps to an Arson Investigation

Preliminary Steps to an Arson Investigation

Introduction

When investigating a suspected arson case, extra care must be made with attention to details. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has created some critical steps that should be followed during an arson case investigation. These steps must be applied based on the nature of the case at hand (Lentini, 2018). The investigation process may involve taking samples to analyze the presence of any ignitable liquid. Other processes include detective work such as interviewing suspects and witnesses, checking any surveillance videos, and finally indicting the suspects.

The first step is always the arrival at the scene of the crime. The process involves proper scanning of the area, attending to victims, if any. One must secure the crime scene at this point, get a list of potential witnesses or suspects based on people that had access to the area (Almirall et al., 2017). Gather all relevant data, including the use of the premises, weather conditions, and crime scene conditions, and document them.

The next step involves evaluating the crime scene by determining the possible causes of the fire. If no clear evidence of arson is available, one is required to apply the NFPA 921 protocol. Collect all fire debris samples to be used for further analysis (Almirall et al., 2017). Documentation of the scene is the next step, and it involves taking photographic and video evidence of the crime scene and all surrounding areas, including witnesses.

The evidence collected must be processed at the scene. The processing is done by securing the evidence, proper labeling, avoiding any contamination, and establishing a chain of custody and access to the evidence (Lentini, 2018). Once all the evidence is secured and processes followed strictly, the investigating officer can then undertake the process of analyzing the evidence to come up with clues that can help determine if it’s an arson attack.

Conclusion

The results of the investigation should be discussed adequately with the investigation team. All evidence must be secured appropriately for use during the indictment process (Lentini, 2018). Focus on all other issues such as insurance inquiries, health, environmental, and safety inquiries, before releasing the scene. A report of the investigation should be submitted to the relevant authorities.

References

Almirall, J., Arkes, H., Lentini, J., Mowrer, F. & Pawliszyn, J. (2017). Forensic Science Assessments: A Quality and Gap Analysis. AAAS. Retrieved from https://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/s3fs-public/reports/Fire%2520Investigation_0.pdf

Lentini, J. J. (2018). Scientific protocols for fire investigation. CRC press.