What is the punishment for arson in NZ?

An attempt to commit arson has a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail. The offence of arson is treated as a serious offence in New Zealand and any person found guilty of arson can potentially face a significant amount of time in prison.

What does the Crimes Act 1961 do?

The Act has 14 parts dealing with various issues including jurisdiction, punishments, “matters of justification and excuse”, crimes against the public order, crimes affecting the administration of law and justice, “crimes against morality and decency, sexual crimes, and crimes against public welfare”, “crimes against …

What is arson crime?

Definition. A crime at common law, originally defined as the malicious burning of the dwelling of another. Depending upon the jurisdiction, the intentional setting of a fire to a building, or else the intentional setting of a fire to a building where people live.

How many years in jail for arson?

In the most egregious felony cases where someone starts a fire with the intent to harm or kill someone else, an arson conviction can bring a life sentence. In other situations, convictions for felony arson can bring sentences of anywhere from one to 20 years.

Is arson civil or criminal?

Arson is a crime of willfully and maliciously setting fire to or charring property. Though the act typically involves buildings, the term arson can also refer to the intentional burning of other things, such as motor vehicles, watercraft, or forests.

What does reckless arson mean?

Reckless Arson. The ‘reckless’ in this offence is to do with whether you are reckless to any life being endangered, rather than the recklessness of actually setting the fire. Examples of this could be setting fire to a room or flat in a communal building or setting fire to public transport.

Who has the power to punish criminals?

Congress
Article I, Section 8, clause 10 grants Congress the power “to define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations.” Federal appellate courts have looked to customary international law for explanations of the power over offenses against the law of nations ( …

What are the 3 kinds of arson?

Mass: Three or more fires set at the same time in the same location. Spree: Three or more fires set at different locations, but with no cooling off period between. Serial: Three or more fires set at different locations, with a period of time passing between them.

How many types of arson are there?

Repetitive fire setting is broken down into three classifications. The classifications are: serial arson, spree arson and mass arson. Serial arson is as many as three fires set at different locations and each fire has a cooling off period between the sets.

Is arson a serious crime?

All of the Arson offences are indictable, and the Crown in some circumstances may seek a life sentence. Arson is considered a very serious charge.

What is 1st degree arson?

Arson is the act of deliberately and maliciously setting or attempting to set fire to property. First Degree Arson is the willful and malicious setting fire to, or burning, any structure in whole or in part, using and some kind of ignition, when that building is being occupied by another person.