|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State
Rep. Scott Conklin |
  
|
Conklin introduces legislation to help law enforcement fight arson
HARRISBURG, May 29 – Centre County state Rep. Scott Conklin has introduced a measure that would help police fight arson through the creation of a registry of convicted arsonists.
Conklin said his proposal would require convicted arsonists to register their name, Social Security number and contact information with local authorities, helping police track where convicted arsonists live and work. Research shows that arsonists are more apt to be habitual re-offenders: statistics gathered in California in 2000 showed that of 173 arsonists that were paroled by the state, more than 50 percent were convicted again within two years of their initial arson conviction.
"The statistics are alarming," Conklin said. "Arson is a pathological crime with intent to cause significant damage. Last year, there were 31,000 structure fires set by arsonists in the United States, causing more than 600 deaths.
"The habitual and devastating nature of these crimes heightens the concerns of our law enforcement officials and makes this registry an important tool in preventing and fighting arson."
Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Managing Arson through Criminal History Act, or MATCH. The federal law establishes guidelines and incentives for states to establish arsonist registries and requires the U.S. attorney general to establish a national arsonist registry and notification program. Conklin said his proposal would model the federal law and require convicted arsonists to register and keep current information in each municipality in which they reside, work or attend college.
"California, Montana and Illinois have enacted state laws to create these databases and I strongly believe Pennsylvania should follow," Conklin said. "Arson destroys homes, communities, wildlife and the environment – and can have fatal results. We need to arm our local law enforcement officials with another tool to limit the occurrences of these horrific crimes."
###wt/2008/agh
l:'print'releases'arsonregistry.077