[Young arsonists, psychopathology and follow-up aspects]

Relatively infrequent (2% of offences in France) the arson behavior (1989, 11,149 acts with an elucidation of 35%) is highly diffused as recent events have shown (forest fire, shops, cars in suburbs). A population of 30 young firesetters, under 25 years shows a great frequency of social parental failure with weak intellectual and scholar levels, but with less obvious pathologic states. Since 1981, the non referring to a criminal court show that this delinquency is linked with other offences. Educational care and psychotherapeutic sid allow a possible evolution to avoid backsliding.