Hostage Scenario Negotiation
Question 1
- Whether it is a hostage or non-hostage incident
This is a non-hostage incident. A non-hostage incident is characterized by taking an individual captive for intangible reasons (Vecchi, Hasselt & Romano, 2005). The subject barricades the victims and expresses his or her disillusionment, frustration, or hurt in relation to the individuals he or she is holding. The person does not need other authorities such as police. The captive is held by a subject who in a very high emotional state. In this case, Bradley is emotionally disturbed by jealousy. Bradley is holding his wife and the professor captive because of a suspected extramarital affair. The demands of non-hostage subject are unrealistic that no reasonable person can expect to be met. Bradley claims that he is holding the victims captive because he has to settle issues with his cheating wife. According to McMains and Mullins (2010), the risk of victims held in non-hostage incidents is higher than that of those in hostage in incidents.
- The stage of Bradley’s crisis
The stage of Bradley’s crisis at this time is the communication stage. In this process, law enforcement officers have landed at the scene and the negotiator is trying to establish communication with the subject (McMains and Mullins, 2010). There is no significant change in this phase. The subject and the victims remain in the same place. In Bradley’s case, the negotiator is taking all reasonable steps to retrieve information from Bradley. Bradley is very angry, emotional and acting violent.
- Whether the incident is negotiable
According to McCains and Mullins (2010), not every hostage incident is negotiable. Negotiable incidents have eight features. First, the hostage-taker should have the will to live. Lack of the desire to live implies that the negotiator does not have an adequate footing for a bargain. Second, the authorities must have threatened to use force and the subject believes it. Third, the hostage-taker must perceive the negotiator as capable of hurting him and that the negotiator is also willing to assist. Fourth, the perpetrator should make demands which make it possible to negotiate. Fifth, there should be adequate time for the negotiator to establish a relationship with the subject and for the negotiations to continue. Sixth, there should be means of communication between the negotiator and the hostage-taker. This entails skills on the part of the negotiator and technical equipment like a telephone line. Seventh, the scene should be enclosed to avoid intrusion into the situation by others. Lastly, in a case involving at least two perpetrators, the negotiator should deal with the perpetrator making decisions.
Bradley’s incident is negotiable. Bradley shows that he wants to live because his major intention is to settle issues with his cheating wife. There is a means of communication between Bradley and the negotiator. Bradley’s demand is that no one leaves the room until he has settled issues with his wife. Though he is not picking the call, he believes the fact that the police are ready to use force in the situation. The scene has been contained and there is no intrusion by others.
Question 2
- Bradley’s instruments and expressive demands
Instrumental demands are based on clear intentions (McMains and Mullins, 2010). Bradley’s instrumental demands are some food and a bottle of Whiskey in exchange for five hostages and a promise that he will not go to jail after the resolution of the incident. Expressive hostage-takers often find it difficult to convey their thoughts and messages to the negotiators in the negotiation process. A jealous husband is a good example of an expressive hostage taker (Noesner & Webster, 1997). Bradley does not have any realistic demands in line with his purpose for holding the victims captive.
- The stage that Bradley is in now
Bradley is in the information gathering stage. The negotiator’s team is gathering information regarding the hostage-taker from the communication between the negotiator and the hostage-taker (Noesner & Webster, 1997). The police will then use the information to plan the response for the hostages to escape. The police are also able to prepare for a tactical assault if it is an option.
- How to handle Bradley’s demands
According to McCains and Mullins (2010), the negotiator must not request the hostage-taker for his demands but wait for the hostage-taker to make the demands. The negotiator should not offer or give anything that has not been specifically requested. If requested, the negotiator should not give more than is necessary. Lastly, the negotiator must not give anything without something in return, probably a hostage. In some situations, an agreement for the hostage-taker to remain calm and keep talking may amount to a realistic trade. The negotiator should use the demands to buy time while manipulating the psychological needs of the perpetrator. With time, the perpetrator’s psychological needs will grow. The negotiator needs to use the drink and food to gain the perpetrator’s trust and diminish his anxiety.
Whether to provide Bradley the alcohol for the release of some hostages
Concessions suggested by McCains and Mullins (2010) include media coverage, alcohol, soft drinks, cigarettes, and food. There is no problem for trading five hostages for the bottle of alcohol. This is because the bottle of alcohol will help in buying time for the negotiations. In addition, the alcohol was to be given in return for some hostages. This, as McCains and Mullins (2010) observe, should be allowed.
Question 3
- Whether making a tactical assault to resolve the situation under the circumstances is appropriate
A tactical assault may not be appropriate in this situation. Bradley’s offer to release five hostages indicates that the frequency of threats is diminishing. With time, the negotiator can influence Bradley until his life and safety become intertwined with that of the hostages. At such a point, the negotiator will have taken control of the situation and he or she can start de-escalating it until the negotiator and Bradley come to a negotiated settlement. Engaging an assault will heighten the level of tension (McMains and Mullins, 2010). This may be very serious especially because there is more than one hostage involved.
- What to do or should have been done by the negotiator to assist the tactical team with their pending assault
The negotiator should have used Abraham Maslow’s five basic needs to buy time (McMains and Mullins, 2010) and weaken Bradley’s bargaining power. First, the negotiator should have met Bradley’s psychological needs by giving him the food and alcohol demanded. This assists in buying time while making the perpetrator to build trust in the negotiator. Second, the negotiator should have met Bradley’s needs by discussing with him about what would happen to him after the resolution of the incident. Third, the negotiator should have met Bradley’s belonging needs by showing how others care about him. Fourth, the negotiator should have met Bradley’s self-esteem needs by building a personal relationship with him. Lastly, he would have dealt with Bradley’s self-actualization needs by telling him about the importance of his future. When the bargaining power of the perpetrator weakens, he is likely to quit or accept any favorable solutions given by the negotiator. Thus, the negotiator brainstorms Bradley with possible solutions so that he may pick the most favorable.
References
McMains, M. J. & Mullins, W. C. (2010). Crisis Negotiations: Managing Critical Incidents and Hostage Situations in Law Enforcement and Corrections, 4th ed. New Providence, NJ: Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
Noesner, G. W. & Webster, M. (1997). Crisis Intervention: Using Active Listening Skills in Negotiations. FBI Law Enforcement Bulleting, 66(8): 13.
Vecchi, G. M., Hasselt, V. B. & Romano, S. J. (2005). Crisis (hostage) negotiation: current strategies and issues in high-risk conflict resolution. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 10(1): 533-551.
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