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Predicting the Recidivism of Mentally Disordered Firesetters

NCJ Number
164071
Journal
Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1996) Pages: 364-375
Author(s)
M E Rice; G T Harris
Date Published
1996
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Two hundred and eight male firesetters with mental disorders were studied for an average period of 7.8 years after release to determine the risk that they would set additional fires.
Abstract
The research was conducted in Canada. The participants had all been admitted to a maximum-security psychiatric hospital between 1973 and 1983. The sample included every individual admitted due to firesetting during this 11-year period. The analysis revealed that during the study period, 16 percent set another fire, 31 percent committed a violent offense, 57 percent committed a nonviolent offense, and 66 percent displayed some form of recidivism. In general, the personal characteristics that predicted firesetting recidivism were quite different from those that predicted nonviolent outcomes and very different from those that predicted violent recidivism. Tables, notes, and 21 references (Author abstract modified)