Contrast "Crisis Negotiations" with "Hostage Negotiations"

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Traditionally police crisis negotiations have meant hostage negotiations. Today crisis negotiations are best viewed as an umbrella of activities in which hostage negotiations are but one component. While specialized training is required for hostage negotiations, all police officers should receive regular training in dealing with people in crisis situations. Historically, police responses to conflict management have been to use all due force necessary to end the threat as soon as possible. However, what is needed is a new philosophy that stresses the need for a fair and just resolution of conflict with the focus being the protection of human life. Interestingly, the field of hostage negotiations has been expanded now to include both hostage and non-hostage incidents in which negotiations are necessary to prevent violence. Hostage situations are those where the subjects hold another person or persons and make demands on a third party—usually law enforcement. The demands are usually for money, a means to escape, a chance to air grievances, or political and social change. The majority of all hostage incidents are resolved without force because the hostage takers prefer life to their demands.