While there are many books on crisis negotiation, most of the current literature focuses on the history and mechanics of this dynamic process, leaving out critical elements that are required for a successful encounter with a hostage-taker or other malfeasant. Psychological Aspects of Crisis Negotiation, Second Edition explores the methods and strategies for confronting the nine types of subjects typically encountered in hostage/suicide sieges by correctional staff and law enforcement crisis negotiators. Drawn from articles published by Thomas Strentz while serving at the FBI Academy* along with written versions of lectures developed and delivered since his retirement, the book highlights psychological dynamics of negotiations as they apply to the negotiator, the hostage, and the subject. It discusses the predictors of surrender versus the need for a tactical intervention and examines the phases of a hostage crisis and the changing focus as the crisis develops. Referencing historical events such as The Bay of Pigs invasion and the Challenger and Columbia incidents, the book demonstrates how faulty group decision making can spell tragedy. Enhanced with case studies to put the material into context, this second edition also includes new chapters on the first responder, hostage survival, and the Islamic belief system and culture. Steeped in sage advice from a national expert, this volume arms those tasked with confronting dangerous offenders with the knowledge and tools they need to subvert disaster and ensure the preservation of human life. *Articles were reviewed by the Academy Editorial/Review Board and approved by the Bureau for publication.

Run a safe and successful crisis negotiation—from start to finish! The Elements of Police Hostage and Crisis Negotiations: Critical Incidents and How to Respond to Them reduces the negotiation procedures for hostage, barricaded, and suicide incidents to their basic elements, providing quick and easy access to the information you need-from the initial call-out to the final debriefing. Based on field-tested principles proven to work, the book also includes newly developed and highly specialized techniques for more experienced negotiators. Author James L. Greenstone provides a user-friendly, step-by-step guide to the intervention and negotiation process that will help you get the job done—right. Designed for day-to-day, on-the-scene use, The Elements of Police Hostage and Crisis Negotiations is a practical handbook for experienced professionals and novices that can also be used as a supplementary textbook for criminal justice, crisis intervention, and psychology coursework. Each chapter contains useful checklists, procedural notes, tables, strategy worksheets, and forms, and the book includes special indices for quick reference in addition to a traditional index. Dr. Greenstone, a police mental health consultant and psychologist who served as Director of the Psychological Services Unit of the Fort Worth Police Department in Texas, uses a simple and direct format that emphasizes procedures, action and results, leaving theoretical discussions for another time and place. The book examines the negotiation process from start to finish, including preincident preparations, first response responsibilities, responding to the call-out, arriving at the scene, preparing to negotiate, making contact, preparing for the surrender, post-incident tasks, preparing equipment, and more. Topics covered in The Elements of Police Hostage and Crisis Negotiations include: legal considerations telephone surveillance guidelines the Stockholm Syndrome working with S.W.A.T. and Tactical Emergency Medical Support dealing with the media recognizing “red flags” the issues of suicide debriefing the hostage team the 150 laws of hostage and crisis negotiation and the 10 most serious errors a negotiator can make The Elements of Police Hostage and Crisis Negotiations: Critical Incidents and How to Respond to Them is a practical guide that’s equally effective in the field, in training, and in the office.

Leading authorities on negotiations present the result of years of research, application, testing and experimentation, and practical experience. Principles and applications from numerous disciplines are combined to create a conceptual framework for the hostage negotiator. Ideas and concepts are explained so that the practicing negotiator can apply the principles outlined.

Leading authorities on negotiations present the result of years of research, application, testing and experimentation, and practical experience. Principles and applications from numerous disciplines are combined to create a conceptual framework for the hostage negotiator. Ideas and concepts are explained so that the practicing negotiator can apply the principles outlined. McMains and Mullins are leading authorities on crisis negotiations. Learning objectives, discussion questions, and real-life negotiation situations expand on the text.

The focus of this book is on dealing with hostage and crisis negotiations and how this can be successfully accomplished in order to save lives. Typically, those encountered by correctional and law enforcement crisis negotiators fall into one of three broad categories: The Bad, the Mad, and the Sad – or, those with antisocial personality disorder; those who are severely mentally ill, insane or psychotic; or those who are contemplating suicide, respectively. This book outlines tactics and procedures for dealing with these three groups of individuals. Many excerpts will be found of siege dialogue and behind-the-scenes efforts of those in the command post and other locations whose efforts and energies play an integral role in this life-saving process. Some topics discussed include how using sleep deprivation should be avoided by hostage and crisis negotiators and how it can be used to advantage against the culprits; and how active listening skills (ALS) can be utilized and the mechanics of the process. These ALS guidelines show how being not only a good interviewer but also a good listener can be used to find a remedy to the situation. Team roles and responsibilities are also discussed in some detail. Using “hooks,” or topics/persons that can be used to extract the subject from the crisis, and “hot buttons,” or topics/persons that should be avoided from discussion, is also examined. Several “Lessons Learned” sections are also included after the dialogues, outlining what was learned and achieved in the process and which pitfalls should be avoided. Crisis negotiations has also been included in the book because a growing number of subjects with whom crisis negotiators deal are not holding hostages. While it is not the purpose of this text to review all tactics and techniques of the negotiations process, many examples are provided of what does work and, on occasion, what does not. It will prove to be a very useful tool to corrections and police negotiators and crisis interveners who seek peaceful ends to these very volatile and dangerous situations.

Training Strategies for Crisis and Hostage Negotiations was written for trainers who are tasked with providing role play: scenario-driven training that is challenging, novel, interesting, varied, and motivating. A trainer may play a larger role as leader, expert, teacher, coordinator, planner, facilitator, resource manager/librarian, observer/evaluator, talent agent/developer, and as a liaison with local, regional, and national groups. Role play remains the principal resource as the most effective way to train negotiatorsOCoboth novice and experiencedOCoand scenarios can be written in any number of ways, with role plays having endless possible variations that provide needed practice under controlled circumstances. Role play has been employed in numerous and diverse settings in the behavioral sciences, government, military, medicine, and business, affording needed practice under these controlled circumstances. The book observes training plans, goals and objectives, roles of trainers, scenario writing, subjects and realistic guidelines for role players, creative variations for role play practice, plus feedback and evaluation. The author adds knowledge about constructing scenarios that teach and challenge, making role plays more powerful and enlivening. Foundation material is included about the role of the trainer, the trainee, adult learning, and the important process of evaluation and the creative use of role play. In addition to the basic principles and mechanics of training strategies, skill-building exercises are presented, which can be used to serve unique settings and circumstances. The basics of active listening skills, negotiations stratagems, analysis of personality, and training techniques to properly master the basic skills for negotiators at all levels are among the many facets of this resource. The author presents a constant review and application of fundamentals in the negotiation world that has produced successful resolutions and competent, skilled negotiators. For the trainer, negotiator, supervisor, or academy instructor, this manual will be an invaluable training source."

Describes a method of negotiation that isolates problems, focuses on interests, creates new options, and uses objective criteria to help two parties reach an agreement.

The FBI’s chief hostage negotiator recounts harrowing standoffs, including the Waco siege with David Koresh and the Branch Davidians, in a memoir that inspired the miniseries Waco, now on Netflix. “Riveting . . . the most in-depth and absorbing section is devoted to the 1993 siege near Waco, Texas.”—The Washington Post In Stalling for Time, the FBI’s chief hostage negotiator takes readers on a harrowing tour through many of the most famous hostage crises in the history of the modern FBI, including the siege at Waco, the Montana Freemen standoff, and the D.C. sniper attacks. Having helped develop the FBI’s nonviolent communication techniques for achieving peaceful outcomes in tense situations, Gary Noesner offers a candid, fascinating look back at his years as an innovator in the ranks of the Bureau and a pioneer on the front lines. Whether vividly recounting showdowns with the radical Republic of Texas militia or clashes with colleagues and superiors that expose the internal politics of America’s premier law enforcement agency, Stalling for Time crackles with insight and breathtaking suspense. Case by case, minute by minute, it’s a behind-the-scenes view of a visionary crime fighter in action.

According to author Frederick J. Lanceley�one of the world's foremost crisis negotiation authorities�negotiators must train and train regularly. For just as the legal field constantly evolves, so does the field of crisis negotiation. The new edition of On-Scene Guide for Crisis Negotiators reflects this fact. A bestseller in its first edition, this book offers practical advice with regard to the theory, procedures, and techniques of crisis and suicide intervention and hostage negotiation. Two new chapters in the second edition cover negotiation with people under the influence of drugs or alcohol and how first responders can contain a situation until a negotiator can arrive. With a suicide intervention flow chart, a checklist for investigators assisting negotiators, and an on-scene guide for crisis negotiators, this indispensable book provides the tools you need to conduct successful negotiations and "make nothing happen."

Join Dr. Andy Young on an "up close and personal" journey into the world of crisis negotiation. Experience a 360-degree panorama of hostage situations from the vantage points of SWAT teams, police, victims, the bad guys, and the specially trained mental health professionals who help save lives and bring relief to the extreme distress that comes with the trauma of crisis. Aside from the drama, danger, tension, and terror of crisis situations, the crux of this book is a profound and deeply human story of real people and real stories-perpetrators, victims, law enforcement, and families-and the very real challenges they face in dealing with the emotional and psychological trauma of crisis situations. It is also a story of the dedicated crisis negotiators and counselors who devote countless hours to helping those traumatized by tragedy navigate safely through some of the worst experiences of their lives. Supremely, it is a story of courage and compassion, rescue and restoration for victims, families, and law enforcement alike. Dr. Young's book brings long overdue and well-deserved honor to the people who risk their lives regularly, not only for public safety, but also for the often-underestimated value of the mental wellbeing of everyone involved.