NCJ Number
28157
Journal
POLIZEIBLATT Volume: 37 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1974) Pages: 166-170
Date Published
1974
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A TYPOLOGY OF KIDNAPPERS AND TAKERS OF HOSTAGES, PRESENTATION OF 35 CASE HISTORIES OF SUCH OFFENSES, AND DISCUSSION OF OFFENDER PERSONALITY TYPES, PLUS ARGUMENTS FAVORING A HARSHER APPROACH BY WEST GERMAN POLICE.
Abstract
THE CASES CITED OCCURRED IN EUROPE AND THE U.S. VIEWS OF OTHER AUTHORS ON KIDNAPPER AND TAKER-OF-HOSTAGES PERSONALITY TYPES ARE CITED. THE AUTHOR SAYS THESE OFFENDERS ARE OFTEN SOLITARY PEOPLE, SERIOUS PSYCHOPATHIC CASES AND DESPERATE. MANY OF THEM ARE WEAK AND INCAPABLE OF COPING WITH LIFE, AND THEIR VISIONS LIE FAR BEYOND THEIR ABILITY TO FULFILL THEM. HE ALSO SAYS THAT TOO MUCH EMPHASIS HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE POSSIBILITY - WHICH IS ACTUALLY SMALL - THAT AN OFFENDER MIGHT KILL A HOSTAGE. IT IS MERELY ONE OF SEVERAL RISKS INVOLVED, BUT IN WEST GERMANY PROTECTING THE LIVES OF HOSTAGES HAS BEEN MADE THE PRIMARY MISSION. HE RECOMMENDS THAT, INSTEAD, THE POLICE BE INSTRUCTED TO GIVE PREFERENCE TO PROTECTING THE LIVES OF HOSTAGES BUT WITHOUT LOSING SIGHT OF THEIR OTHER TASK - APPREHENDING THE OFFENDERS. HOWEVER, PRESERVING THE SAFETY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS ANOTHER RESPONSIBILITY THAT MUST BE KEPT IN MIND. PART 1 OF THIS PART 1 OF THIS ARTICLE IS NCJ-28959. SEE NCJ-32503 FOR ENGLISH TRANSLATION. --IN GERMAN