NCJ Number
147474
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 63 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1994) Pages: 8-11
Date Published
1994
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Results of a hostage negotiation survey are discussed.
Abstract
One hundred hostage negotiation unit team leaders attending a seminar conducted jointly by the Baltimore County, Maryland Police Department and the FBI completed a crisis negotiation survey (CNS). According to this article, the CNS, initially developed based on input from FBI hostage negotiators, represents the first attempt at collecting and disseminating information on hostage negotiation team characteristics and crisis incidents. The CNS, designed to identify the needs of crisis negotiation teams and to gather demographic information about the negotiation teams, consists of 44 questions focusing on specific issues that affect crisis negotiation teams. These issues include demographics, selection and training, incident responses, use of mental health professionals, information and training needs, and the feasibility of establishing a national clearinghouse for crisis negotiation. Results of the survey revealed that members of negotiation teams were primarily white males. Fewer than half of the teams had any written negotiator selection policy. Once selected, team members received fairly limited initial training in hostage negotiations and even less followup or continuing training. Most negotiation teams responded to a relatively small number of crisis negotiation situations during 1991. About one-half of the teams used a mental health professional as a consultant, primarily for postincident counseling. A high percentage of team leaders cited a need for a national crisis/hostage negotiation clearinghouse to collect, analyze, and disseminate information regarding crisis negotiation and indicated a willingness to assist the clearinghouse by providing information and audiovisual materials on crisis experiences.