NCJ Number
140838
Journal
Security Management Volume: 37 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1993) Pages: 33-38
Date Published
1993
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article on kidnapping considers negotiation considerations, when to pay, kidnap prevention, and kidnap survival.
Abstract
The FBI identifies the victim of a kidnapping as a person seized by unlawful force or fraud and held at an unknown location, often for ransom. In a hostage situation, the victim is held against his or her will at a location known to the authorities. Hostage takers usually demand money, political or economic concessions, and transportation combined with a promise of escape. The kidnapper's demands center primarily on financial gain. The safe return of the kidnapping victim through negotiations depends largely on the choice of a negotiator. Many police agencies use police officers, trained as crisis negotiators, to conduct kidnap negotiations. The negotiator's training and experience should be a determining factor in the selection of a negotiator for a specific kidnapping situation. Paying ransom to gain the safe release of a kidnap victim could be viewed as a positive action by corporate employees held for ransom from their companies; however, refusing to pay a ransom may be a deterrent to future kidnappings. For this reason, many organizations have an established policy that they will not pay ransoms. Persons who are attractive kidnapping targets should take preventive measures. Such measures include the varying of daily routines and cultivation of an awareness of surroundings that will condition potential victims to notice unusual cars or people near the home or office. The kidnap victim should engage in survival tactics by following the kidnappers' instructions and doing nothing to violate kidnappers' efforts to keep their identities from the victim. 6 references