ABSTRACT
Juvenile Fire Setting and Bomb Making (JFSB) continues to function as a major problem for fire service and law enforcement personnel. JFSB has garnered significant forensic psychological attention and awareness, as recent figures suggest its prevalence poses a major public safety threat. That is, the increased rates of JFSB have shown a disturbing rise in costs attached to it (e.g., deaths, property damage, and public safety responses). In terms of the clinical and forensic psychological issues involved with JFSB, one of the advanced topics is the way that risk assessments (e.g., criminogenic risks, needs rehabilitative issues, and identify culturally responsive interventions) are used within the context of responding to these cases. In this case, the risk assessment adds critical information in terms of how public safety personnel may respond to these cases in an evidence-based way. From a clinical psychological intervention perspective, the idea of the malleability of JFSB behavior later becomes an important factor while considering the application of evidence-based interventions. This chapter introduces the advanced and emerging forensic trends in working with JFSB. Next, the focus shifts to forensic risk factors and predictors of psychopathological behavior. Then, there is a review of the myths, misdiagnoses, and missed psychiatric diagnoses with JFSBs. This section is followed by a discussion of the development of assessment tools that are specifically designed for working with this clinical forensic population. There are an examination of a sample of interventions and treatment options for JFSB. Finally, conclusions, Implications for clinical forensic psychological practice and research are highlighted.
