ARMY HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS - AN INSIGHT INTO AR (ARMY REGULATIONS) 190-52

• NCJ Number: 61634
• Journal: Detective Volume: 7 Issue: 3 Dated: (SUMMER 1979) Pages: 6-13
• Author(s): R K RESSLER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of the Army
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ARMY REGULATION (AR) 190-52, DATED JUNE 1978, IS EXPLAINED AS IT RELATES TO PROCEDURES FOR COUNTERING AND COORDINATING TERRORISM AND HOSTAGE SITUATIONS ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.

Abstract

THE REGULATION CLEARLY DEFINES THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL LEVELS OF COMMAND IN TERRORIST OR HOSTAGE SITUATIONS AND SPECIFIES THAT MILITARY INSTALLATION CONTINGENCY PLANS SHOULD CONSIDER THE USE OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION AGENTS AS HOSTAGE NEGOTIATORS. THESE AGENTS MUST BE AWARE OF THE DYNAMICS INVOLVED IN DEALING WITH HOSTAGE-TAKERS. HOSTAGE-TAKERS GENERALLY FALL INTO ONE OF THREE BASIC CATEGORIES: PROFESSIONAL CRIMINAL; PSYCHOTIC OR MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUAL; AND FANATIC OR TERRORIST PERSONALITY. A FOURTH TYPE OF HOSTAGE-TAKER IS ANY COMBINATION OF THE THREE BASIC CATEGORIES WHILE IN PRISON OR AN INSTITUTION. SWIFT POLICE RESPONSE OFTEN PROMPTS THE PROFESSIONAL CRIMINAL TO SEIZE HOSTAGES. THIS INDIVIDUAL MAY BE DEALT WITH IN A FORTHRIGHT MANNER THROUGH SKILLFUL NEGOTIATIONS AND IS OFTEN WILLING TO MAKE CONCESSIONS, POSSIBLY IN THE FORM OF AN ADJUSTED PRISON SENTENCE OR PERHAPS BY JUST GETTING THE SITUATION OVER WITH AND REMAINING ALIVE. ALTHOUGH MENTALLY-ILL INDIVIDUALS ARE THOUGHT TO BE THE MOST DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE OF ALL CRIMINALS, THEY CAN BE EFFECTIVELY HANDLED ONCE THEIR MENTAL INSTABILITY IS DETERMINED. HOSTAGE-TAKING BY THE FANATIC OR TERRORIST PERSONALITY IS PROBABLY THE MOST DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT, SINCE THIS INDIVIDUAL OFTEN PLANS AND REHEARSES HOSTAGE-TAKING IN ADVANCE. WHEREAS THE PROFESSIONAL CRIMINAL TAKES HOSTAGES AS A CONTINGENCY PLAN IN THE CRIMINAL ACT, THE TERRORIST'S ACT IS AN END IN ITSELF. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE TERRORIST IS POLITICAL. IN A PRISON OR INSTITUTIONAL SITUATION, A QUICK BUT PLANNED ASSAULT BY A WELL-TRAINED TACTICAL TEAM IS THE BEST AND MOST PREDICTABLE COURSE OF ACTION TO MINIMIZE THE DANGER OF PRISON BREAK ATTEMPTS OR RIOTS. INCORPORATED IN AR 190-52 ARE CONTINUNING EDUCATION AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR HOSTAGE NEGOTIATORS. IMPORTANT CONCEPTS IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING ARE THE PROXIMETRIC THEORY RELATED TO BODY SPACE REQUIREMENTS AND CREATURE COMFORT AND SURVIVAL IDENTIFICATION OR VICTIMIZATION. PHOTOGRAPHS AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)