HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION FOR POLICE

• NCJ Number: 45606
• Author(s): J SKIDMORE; D ANDERSON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 0 pages
• Grant Number(s): DCJS 18365C
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: MTI
• Sale Source: MTI
• Publication Type: Training (Handbook/Manual)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. 51 MINUTES, 16MM COLOR, 1977 RENTAL AVAILABLE

Annotation

THIS MULTIMEDIA TRAINING PROGRAM ON HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION PROCEDURES PROVIDES POLICE DEPARTMENTS, OF ANY SIZE, WITH A STRUCTURED APPROACH TO TRAINING OFFICERS TO DEAL WITH THIS GROWING PROBLEM.

Abstract

THE CORE OF THE PROGRAM IS A FILM DEPICTING THE HANDLING OF THREE TYPES OF HOSTAGE SITUATIONS AND POLICE RESPONSES. ONE SITUATION INVOLVING A FATHER'S KIDNAPING OF HIS DAUGHTER IS HANDLED BY THE FIRST RESPONDING OFFICER; THE SECOND INCIDENT CENTERING AROUND A DISTURBED INDIVIDUAL CLAIMING TO BE HOLDING HOSTAGES IS HANDLED BY A DETECTIVE; AND THE THIRD SITUATION DEPICTING THE TAKING OF HOSTAGES DURING AN ABORTED ROBBERY IS HANDLED BY A HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION TEAM. SEVERAL IMPORTANT POINTS ARE MADE DURING THE COURSE OF THESE VIGNETTES. THE ACTIONS OF THE FIRST OFFICER RESPONDING TO A HOSTAGE SITUATION IS OFTEN CRITICAL TO HOW THE SITUATION WILL TURN OUT. WHEN SUCH A SITUATION DEVELOPS, POLICE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISH INNER AND OUTER PARAMETERS WHICH WILL CONTAIN THE SITUATION AND ISOLATE THE PUBLIC FROM THE IMMEDIATE LOCATION. A COMMAND POST MUST BE ESTABLISHED TO SERVE AS THE FOCUS FOR HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS AND FOR INTELLIGENCE GATHERING ACTIVITIES REGARDING THE PHYSICAL LAYOUT OF THE HOSTAGE LOCATION AND THE PERSONALITIES OF THE HOSTAGE TAKERS. POLICE OFFICERS WHO BECOME INVOLVED IN HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE CAREFULLY SELECTED TO ENSURE THAT THEY POSSESS THE NECESSARY PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAITS REQUIRED TO RESPOND CALMLY AND RATIONALLY TO CRISIS SITUATIONS. POLICE MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS AND STRAINS FACED BY THE HOSTAGES. IN ADDITION TO THE FILM, THE TRAINING KIT INCLUDES NEGOTIATIONS AUDIO CASSETTES WHICH PROVIDE FURTHER EXAMPLES OF ACTUAL HOSTAGE SITUATIONS, AN INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL WITH SUGGESTED CLASSROOM EXERCISES, A TRAINEE REFERENCE GUIDE TO POINTS COVERED IN THE PROGRAM, AND CASE STUDY SLIDES ILLUSTRATING SPECIFIC SITUATIONS AND TACTICS USED IN HOSTAGE NEGOTIATIONS. BIBLIOGRAPHIES ARE PROVIDED IN THE INSTRUCTOR'S AND TRAINEE'S MANUALS. (KCP)