Crisis negotiation is a law enforcement technique used to communicate with people who are threatening violenceStrentz, Thomas (2006). ''Psychological aspects of crisis negotiation.'' CRC Press, ( workplace violence,

domestic violence Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. ''Domestic violence'' is often used as a synonym for ''intimate partner v ...

, suicide, or terrorism), including

barricade Barricade (from the French ''barrique'' - 'barrel') is any object or structure that creates a barrier or obstacle to control, block passage or force the flow of traffic in the desired direction. Adopted as a military term, a barricade denot ...

d subjects, stalkers, criminals attempting to escape after a botched robbery, and

hostage A hostage is a person seized by an abductor in order to compel another party, one which places a high value on the liberty, well-being and safety of the person seized, such as a relative, employer, law enforcement or government to act, or refr ...

-takers.Defense Information Access Network,

United States State Department The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other ...

(1987). ''Hostage negotiation: a matter of life and death.'' DIANE Publishing, Crisis negotiation is often initiated by the first officer(s) on the scene.

History

Modern hostage negotiation principles were established in 1972 when then- NYPD Detective

Harvey Schlossberg Harvey Schlossberg (January 27, 1936May 21, 2021) was an officer with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), Freudian psychoanalyst, and the founder of modern crisis negotiation. He founded the Psychological Services department in the NYPD, ...

, also a psychologist, recognized the need for trained personnel in crisis intervention. Schlossberg had worked on the

David Berkowitz David Richard Berkowitz (born Richard David Falco, June 1, 1953), also known as the Son of Sam and .44 Caliber Killer, is an American serial killer who pleaded guilty to eight shootings that began in New York City on July 29, 1976. Berkowitz ...

("Son of Sam") case, and had instituted other psychological principles in police work, including

psychological screening A psychiatric assessment, or psychological screening, is the process of gathering information about a person within a psychiatric service, with the purpose of making a diagnosis. The assessment is usually the first stage of a treatment process, but ...

of police applicants and the use of hypnosis in suspect/witness interviews. The first Hostage Negotiation Teams (HNTs) were often created as elements of Special Weapons and Tactics (

SWAT In the United States, a SWAT team (special weapons and tactics, originally special weapons assault team) is a police tactical unit that uses specialized or military equipment and tactics. Although they were first created in the 1960s to ...

) Teams and merely created a diversion while SWAT deployed. In modern usage, while sometimes acting independently, hostage negotiation teams are often deployed in conjunction with SWAT. The

FBI Crisis Negotiation Unit The FBI's Crisis Negotiation Unit (CNU) is the part of the Operational Support Branch of its Critical Incident Response Group responsible for the FBI's Crisis (Hostage) Negotiation Program. The mission of the CNU is fourfold, consisting of operat ...

(which developed the Behavioral Change Stairway Model) and

Singapore Police Force Crisis Negotiation Unit The Crisis Negotiation Unit (CNU) is a specialist unit of the Singapore Police Force under the umbrella of the Special Operations Command. Its teams of specially trained police officers are called upon to defuse life-threatening situations throu ...

are examples of specialized units trained in these techniques.

Behavioral Change Stairway Model

One specific model developed by the FBI is the Behavioral Change Stairway Model. Police negotiators that follow this model work through the following stages in order # ''Active Listening'': Understand the psychology of the perpetrator and let them know they are being listened to. # ''Empathy'': Understand their issues and how they feel. # ''Rapport'': When they begin to see how the negotiator feels, they are building trust. # ''Influence'': Only once trust has been gained can solutions to their problem be recommended. # ''Behavioral Change'': They act, and maybe surrender. It is considered to be important to work through these steps in order, and not to try to effect behavioral change before rapport has been established.

References

{{reflist

External links

“Crisis” or “Hostage” Negotiation? - The Distinction Between Two Important Terms

FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...

Hostage Negotiations for the First Responder - Missouri POST (Police Officers Standards and Training) Approved Technical Training Course: © 2011 Jonathan Greenstein and Creative Management ConsultantsHostage Negotiations Panel DiscussionHostage Negotiations by Jonathan GreensteinHostage Negotiations Panel Discussion at CSI
Law enforcement Negotiation *