Date of Award

Spring 2026

Language

English

Embargo Period

4-28-2026

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College/School/Department

College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity

Program

Emergency Management and Homeland Security

First Advisor

Brian Nussbaum

Committee Members

Stephen Coulthart, Brandon Behlendorf

Keywords

arson, explosives, ATF reporting, incident trends, investigative outcomes, emergency management, homeland security, public safety

Subject Categories

Criminology | Defense and Security Studies | Emergency and Disaster Management | Fire Science and Firefighting | Public Policy | Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance | Terrorism Studies

Abstract

This thesis provides an aggregate assessment of arson and explosives incidents reported by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, and Tobacco, from 2014 to 2024. This thesis is written to highlight trends, investigative outcomes, and evolving patterns of criminal activity. Analysis of the data reveals notable shifts in incident frequencies, data distributions, and case resolution rates. This suggests both emerging technologies and changing operational dynamics that have affected long-term trends in arson and explosive incidents. Variations in incident types and investigative outcomes underscore the interplay between law enforcement priorities, resource allocation, and reporting practices over the ten-year period. The study also identifies challenges in data consistency and reporting completeness, while documenting improvements in national-level incident tracking. By translating raw reporting into actionable insights, this research informs strategic decision-making for emergency management, homeland security, and criminal justice practitioners. This study is intended to offer guidance for prevention, mitigation, and resource planning in these contexts. Findings highlight the importance of longitudinal data analysis in anticipating criminal trends, refining investigative strategies, and supporting evidence-based policy development to enhance public safety. This work demonstrates the value of systemic, decade-long data analysis in understanding complex threats and guiding interventions that reduce the occurrence and impact of arson and explosives incidents across the United States.

License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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