What is hostage negotiation? Hostage negotiation can be defined as "a negotiation between law enforcement, diplomats or other other government representatives for the release of people held hostage against their will by criminals, terrorists. or other elements” (www.negotiations.com). When hostages are taken, it endangers the lives of the hostages, police officers and people in the vicinity of the incident. It can also be emotionally and psychologically harmful. Dwayne Fuselier, an associate with the FBI Academy's Special Operations and Research Unit, says most articles give three or four types of hostage takers. These types are the criminal, the political activist or terrorist, the mentally ill person, and the prisoner. Scenario: You are a police psychologist in a large metropolitan area. You are also a member of his hostage negotiation team. You were called to a crisis incident at 3:15 p.m. on a Friday. It's in a residential neighborhood, about three blocks from a college and a public library. The information you have at this time is that the subject is a 42 year old man locked in his home with his wife, son and a family friend. He murdered his next door neighbor and threatens to kill everyone in the house if his demands are not met. One of his demands is immunity from the charge of murder if he surrenders without harming those in the house. His other demands are a case of beer and soon fast food. He wants his demands to be met, otherwise “something is going to happen.” Explain the type of incident: Each situation must be resolved without harm to victims, bystanders, officials, and even the hostage-taker. Excessive use of paper...... middle of paper ...... be willing and able to follow protocol and assist the negotiation team as needed.ReferencesChipperfield,E., How to Release a Hostage: When lives are on the line, how can a person resolve a hostage crisis with psychology. www.sciencefocus.com/feature/psychology/Fuselier, D., G. Hostage negotiation consultant: emerging role of the clinical psychologist, Professional psychology: research and practice, 1998, vol.19, n°2, p.175 -179Kurke M. & Scrivner, E. (1995). Police psychology in the 21st century (1st ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum PublishersMaher, G (1977) Hostage: A Policing Approach to a Contemporary Crisis, Spingfield IL: Charles C. Thomas From the Kaplan LibraryThe Neogtiation Experts-Create Value From www.negotiations.comWind,B. ,(1995) Guide to Crisis Negotiations http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cjs10.htm www.wmur.com