Crisis negotiation is a

law enforcement Law enforcement is the activity of some members of government who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules Rule or ruling may refer to: Education ...

technique used to communicate with people who are threatening violenceStrentz, Thomas (2006). ''Psychological aspects of crisis negotiation.'' CRC Press, (

workplace violence Workplace violence (WPV), violence in the workplace (VIW), or occupational violence refers to violence, usually in the form of physical abuse or threat, that creates a risk to the health and safety of an employee or multiple employees. The Natio ...

, domestic violence, suicide, or

terrorism Terrorism, in its broadest sense, is the use of criminal violence to provoke a state of terror or fear, mostly with the intention to achieve political or religious aims. The term is used in this regard primarily to refer to intentional violen ...

), including barricaded subjects,

stalkers Stalking is unwanted and/or repeated surveillance by an individual or group toward another person. Stalking behaviors are interrelated to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in person or monitoring them. The term ...

, 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 nat ...

(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 The New York City Police Department (NYPD), officially the City of New York Police Department, established on May 23, 1845, is the primary municipal law enforcement agency within the City of New York, the largest and one of the oldest in ...

Detective Harvey Schlossberg, 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 of police applicants and the use of

hypnosis Hypnosis is a human condition involving focused attention (the selective attention/selective inattention hypothesis, SASI), reduced peripheral awareness, and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion.In 2015, the American Psychologica ...

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

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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 *