Forensic Psychologists In Hostage Negotiation

A majority of law enforcement agencies use forensic psychologists and other mental health professionals in hostage negotiations.Findings show that agencies that use psychologists in hostage negotiations report fewer incidents where the offender seriously injured or killed the hostage.There are four types of hostage-takers (that require very different approaches in terms of negotiations):

• Political activists/terrorists
• Prisoners
• Individuals who have committed a crime
• Mentally ill individuals

People Involved in the Situation :

Inside :

• Hostage taker.
• Hostages.

Outside :

• Commander.
• Tactical team.
• Negotiating team
• Primary negotiator (communicates, negotiates).
• Secondary negotiator (documents, coordinates info).
• Tertiary negotiator (carries out tasks).
• Police psychologist.
• Patrol team.
• Media team.
  

Negotiating Steps :

1. Isolate the Area ,

Build Rapport

• Express feelings of understanding & empathy, but don’t say “I understand how you feel”.
• Encourage hostage-taker to do the talking.
• Display your own calmness.
• Find opportunities, no matter how small, to work with the hostage taker.
• Do not lie, but be empathic when possible.
• Help the hostage taker save face, but minimize suggestions.

2. Determine the extent to which the incident is negotiable

• The hostage taker must have a need to live.
• There must be a threat of force by the authorities.
• There must be demands by the hostage taker.
• The negotiator must be seen as a person who can hurt the 
• hostage taker, but who is willing to help.
• There must be time to negotiate.
• A reliable channel of communication must exist between 
• the negotiator and the hostage taker.
• The location and the communications of the incident need 
• to be contained.
• The negotiator must be able to deal with the hostage taker 
• making the decisions.

3. Negotiating

• Avoid accepting deadlines.
• Keep the hostage-taker talking.
• Listen, listen, listen.
• Don’t rush — time is on your side.
• Be sure the hostage-taker understands that you are 
• not able to make final decisions.
• Withhold rewards (e.g., food, water, media) as 
• long as possible so that they will be available when 
• really needed.