NEGOTIATIONS, SESSION 3 (FROM HOSTAGE-TAKING - PROBLEMS OF PREVENTION AND CONTROL - MANAGEMENT TRAINING SEMINAR FINAL REPORT, 1976, BY R D CRELINSTEN AND D LABERGE-ALTMEJD - SEE NCJ-49367)

• NCJ Number: 49371
• Author(s): D DAWE; MULLANY; F OCHBERG; W SALEWSKI; R CRELINSTEN; A REISS
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 34 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Maryland; Universite de Montreal, Centre International de Criminologie Comparee
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

WHAT CONSTITUTES NEGOTIATIONS, WHO SHOULD NEGOTIATE, WHAT IS NEGOTIABLE, THE FORMS AND TECHNIQUES OF NEGOTIATION, AND THE PITFALLS IN NEGOTIATION ARE DISCUSSSED.

Abstract

A DISTINCTION IS MADE BETWEEN MERE DIALOGUE, WHERE OFTEN THE GOAL IS SIMPLY TO WEAR DOWN THE OFFENDER, AND TRUE NEGOTIATIONS, WHERE THERE IS A GIVE AND TAKE IN WHICH CONCESSIONS ARE MADE ON BOTH SIDES. THE ROLE OF NEGOTIATOR IS THUS SEEN AS TWO-FOLD: MAINTAINING DIALOGUE AND BEING A SPOKESMAN FOR THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY IN THE BARGAIN FOR AND EXCHANGE OF CONCESSIONS WITH THE HOSTAGE-TAKER. IT IS INDICATED THAT THE NEGOTIATOR SHOULD NOT BE THE DECISIONMAKER. SEVERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF A NEGOTIATOR ARE HIGHLIGHTED: A KNOWLEDGE OF NATIONAL OR LOCAL POLICIES, A MATURE APPEARANCE, ABILITY TO WITHSTAND STRESS, ABILITY TO OBSERVE AND REPORT, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, PATIENCE, AND THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN POISE IN UNPREDICTABLE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE NEED FOR NEGOTIATOR TRAINING IN DEALING WITH A VARIETY OF OFFENDER TYPOLOGIES IS EMPHASIZED. MATTERS CONSIDERED NEGOTIABLE AND NON-NEGOTIABLE ARE TO BE PREDETERMINED AS A MATTER OF POLICY FOR A GIVEN POLITICAL JURISDICTION. THE CONCEPT OF A NEGOTIATING TEAM IS DISCUSSED AND RECOMMENDED; AND THE ROLE OF THE PRESS AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA IN NEGOTIATIONS IS CONSIDERED. MAJOR AREAS FOR PITFALLS IN NEGOTIATIONS ARE SEEN TO BE WITH THE NEGOTIATOR HIMSELF, THE VICTIM OR HOSTAGE, COMMUNICATIONS, AND EXTERNAL FACTORS IN THE ENVIRONMENT. (RCB)