Components in a Hostage Negotiation Training Curriculum

Careful study of critical incidents and their outcomes shows the value of hostage negotiation in reducing injuries and death to hostages, hostage takers, and responders. A comprehensive training program in hostage negotiation combines classroom lectures with group discussions and role playing. The nature of the critical incident, type of perpetrator, and violence risk potential guide the negotiation strategies. Survival strategies and differences in law enforcement contexts are also reviewed. This article describes the components of a state-of-the-art hostage negotiation training program.