Crisis Negotiation Unit Research Articles

Failed summons: Phonetic features of persistence and intensification in crisis negotiation

This paper explores crisis negotiators' practices for summoning persons in crisis who are unavailable, unable or unwilling to respond. A corpus of audio recorded interactions between a UK police hostage and crisis negotiation unit and (suicidal) people in crisis was analysed. The analysis shows how low to moderate phonetic upgrades in pitch, and small variations in loudness, duration and articulatory setting are associated with interactionally ‘re-doing’ a subsequent summons. In contrast, marked phonetic upgrades in pitch, loudness and articulatory setting are associated with an increase in danger or concern. And whereas phonetic upgrading of a self-repeated summons is found in cases where the recipient is unavailable, unable or unwilling to respond, phonetic downgrading treats the silence as responsiveness in progress, where the summons repetition does extra work to further secure the person's joint attention to a projected new course of action. I discuss the complexities of applying an ‘upgrade-downgrade’ continuum to account for repeated action and consider the wider implications of phonetic design on crisis management.

Captive-Taking Incidents in the Context of Domestic Violence: A Descriptive Analysis

Captive-taking events in the context of domestic violence have received increased attention from law enforcement and mental health professionals. However, despite the high lethality risk of these situations, for both the partners involved as well as first responders (police officers, crisis negotiators), only a modicum of investigative activity has been directed to these incidents. Further, the few extant reports in this area are primarily clinical case studies or anecdotal accounts. The purpose of the present investigation was to expand on previous work by providing more descriptive analyses of these events in order to garner data potentially useful in crisis negotiators' efforts to resolve these critical incidents in a peaceful, nonviolent manner. Specifically, three categories of variables (demographic, situational, and outcome) were examined in cases obtained from the Hostage/Barricade Database System (HOBAS) maintained by the Crisis Negotiation Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Results showed that (1) these incidents tend to be unplanned, (2) they occur in private residences, (3) third party intermediaries are judged to have minimal impact on the negotiated outcome, and (4) subjects tend to be white in their mid-30s or 40s with prior violent arrest and substance abuse histories. Further, white females are more likely to be victims. Extended family members and children are increasingly becoming involved in these situations. Additionally, five cases were chosen to reflect the primary categories of variables. Limitations of the study and implications for future research in this area are also discussed.

Captive-Taking Incidents in the Context of Workplace Violence: Descriptive Analysis and Case Examples

Workplace violence has been a burgeoning issue of concern for organizations, law enforcement personnel, and mental health professionals. Most research has been devoted to understanding the causes of workplace aggression and developing strategies for effective intervention. Previous examinations of workplace aggression have focused on threats, assaults, and homicide. However, there is little research directed toward the problem of captive-taking in the workplace. The purpose of the present investigation was to: (1) to identify the characteristics of these incidents that may be useful in developing efficacious prevention and intervention strategies, and (2) increase crisis negotiators' level of understanding of these events and facilitate their resolution. Fifteen captive-taking cases were obtained from the Hostage/Barricade Database System (HOBAS) maintained by the Crisis Negotiation Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Further, three categories of variables (situational, subject, victim) and several case scenarios were examined. Results demonstrated that: (1) these events tend to be planned, (2) subjects generally were Caucasian, single, males between the ages of 25 and 40, (3) victims were usually Caucasian females with no significant relationship to the subject, and (4) in most cases, incidents were peacefully resolved with little to no harm to subject or victim. Implications for future research in the area of crisis negotiations in the workplace context are discussed.

Common Variables Associated with the Development of Stockholm Syndrome: Some Case Examples

Stockholm Syndrome is a paradoxical psychological experience which both intrigues and often frustrates law enforcement and mental health professionals alike. Much attention has been directed toward understanding and defining the contextual variables associated with the development of Stockholm Syndrome. Since it appears that the formation of Stockholm Syndrome may increase the likelihood of hostage survival, discerning the factors that may encourage its occurrence is a priority for crisis negotiators. The purpose of this paper is to (1) analyze crisis situations using actual case examples in which evidence of Stockholm Syndrome has been reported and (2) examine the variables associated with the development of this phenomenon. Case information was obtained from the Hostage Barricade Database System (HOBAS) of the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Unit. Results of this analysis conclude that some, but not all, factors previously hypothesized as requisite to the development of Stockholm Syndrome find additional support from this case analysis.

The Crisis Negotiation Unit Commander

The Crisis Negotiation Unit Commander

Development and Validation of a Role-Play Test for Assessing Crisis (Hostage) Negotiation Skills

The purpose of this article is to (a) describe the construction of a role-play test (RPT), which is based on actual negotiated encounters by the Crisis Negotiation Unit of the FBI and employed specifically for evaluation and training of negotiation skills, and (b) provide preliminary validational support for the RPT. The first part of the study includes an overview of RPT item development and the role of active-listening skills, and the second part involves the validation of the RPT. Both groups were also administered self-report measures of social problem-solving skills and emotional empathy. Results indicate that in comparison to experts, nonexpert negotiators show deficiencies across active-listening skill categories. Relationships between use of active listening and emotional empathy are observed.

Hostage-Taking in the Context of Domestic Violence: Some Case Examples

Initial reports of domestic violence are generally made to law enforcement officers who must respond and intervene. A subset of these episodes involves cases in which the victim, and, in many instances her child(ren), have been taken hostage by her husband or partner. Moreover, there are indications that the number of such incidents is growing. The purpose of this project was twofold: (1) to provide one of the first reports on the prevalence and characteristics of these events, and (2) to more closely analyze domestic crisis (hostage) situations using actual case examples. All information was obtained from the Hostage Barricade Database System (HOBAS) of the FBI’s Crisis Negotiation Unit. HOBAS is a postincident information collection tool which stores historical data from law enforcement agencies across the nation on hostage/barricade incidents. An examination of this database yielded different types of domestic hostage-taking acts and outcomes (e.g., tactical vs. negotiated resolutions, survival vs. death/injury of perpetrator and/or victim[s]). Implications of the findings, for future crisis negotiation efforts directed toward nonviolent resolution of these high-risk critical incidents, are discussed.

Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit Crisis Situation Debriefing Sheet “The Ten-Minute Debriefing”

Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit Crisis Situation Debriefing Sheet “The Ten-Minute Debriefing”

Organization and Structure of the Crisis Negotiation Unit and Related Legal Aspects

Organization and Structure of the Crisis Negotiation Unit and Related Legal Aspects

Negotiating under the Cross: The Story of the Forty Day Siege of the Church of Nativity

AbstractThis article provides an insider's observation of negotiations with terrorists, in particular, the negotiation process carried out by Israel and armed Palestinians who were barricaded in the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. By applying various negotiation methodologies, the author describes the challenges, strategies and methods used by the military Crisis Negotiation Unit to manage and resolve this international crisis, and draws general lessons for future negotiation situations developed within the modern counter-terrorism arena.