社会的自立性と犯罪深度を基にした連続放火犯の分類と分類別にみた放火形態について

抄録

  Serial arsonists (N=125) were differentiated into four groups on the basis of their social independence and the degree of criminality, by using categorical principal components analysis (CATPCA). Results indicated the following. (1) Arsonists with high social independence and high criminality were aged 40 years or more in age, did not live with their parents, and tended to have criminal records for theft. (2) Arsonists with high social independence and low criminality were most frequently employed, high school graduates, married, and had no criminal record. Moreover, there were more female and mental patients in this group compared with other groups. (3) Arsonists with low social independence and high criminality were all male, compulsory education level (including high school dropouts), unmarried, not living with parent(s), and had no criminal record of theft. These arsonists tended to have relatively no criminal record of arson compared with other groups. (4) Arsonists with low social independence and low criminality were the youngest among four groups and were aged between 10 and 30 years, unmarried, lived with their parent(s), and had no criminal record. Results of log-linear analysis indicated that arsonists with high social independence tended to use a car or walk to the crime scene, whereas those with low social independence were inclined to use a bicycle. Moreover, arsonists with high criminality records tended to prepare the medium for arson in advance and drink alcohol before the offence, whereas arsonists with low criminality had a tendency to set fire to the same place repeatedly.