A Review of “Contemporary Theory, Research, and Practice of Crisis and Hostage Negotiation”

Abstract

According to the most recent statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Hostage, Barricade, and Suicide database, hostage and other crisis situations are an almost daily occurrence for law enforcement personnel. Negotiation is the primary means by which such situations are resolved, and as a result, crisis negotiation has become an important area of academic study. Randall G. Rogan and Frederick J. Lanceley seek to advance knowledge in this area by compiling an edited volume of recent findings and writings from academic areas such as communication and psychology coupled with work by former law enforcement personnel with significant experience in crisis and hostage negotiation. Rogan and Lanceley more than achieve their goal. Contemporary Theory, Research, and Practice of Crisis and Hostage Negotiation is a significant compilation of crisis and hostage research that highlights the importance of integrating academic research with the on-the-job experience of law enforcement personnel. Rogan and Lanceley are uniquely suited to this task as Rogan is a professor of communication who specializes in crisis negotiation research, and Lanceley is a retired FBI agent who worked hundreds of crisis and hostage situations and now trains law enforcement officers in this area. Their broad interdisciplinary approach should appeal to readers in a variety of fields such as communication, psychology, sociology, and criminal justice. The text also would be an excellent addition to a primary text in courses focused on negotiation, whether in criminal justice or in other fields. Much of the text is broadly applicable to conflict situations as a whole and does not apply to only crisis/hostage negotiation situations. The text discusses crisis and hostage research in an engaging style that readers at a variety of levels of expertise can understand and apply. The editors wrote the first chapter, which describes the importance of crisis and hostage research and situates the text in its communication-based perspective. Chapter 2 provides definitions important to the study of hostage and crisis negotiation. Robert J. Louden reviews a brief history of notable hostage situations that spotlighted the need for a formal study and practice of crisis and hostage negotiation. He discusses early work in this area by the New York Police Department and the FBI and also outlines early academic research.