- 1970 The FBI wanted to expand the structure of the negotiation team and recommended the use of a mental health professional as a consultant on a regular basis. Typically there were only able to consult if the perpetrator was mentally disturbed. The FBI wanted a consultant regardless of the mental status of the hostage taker. (Butler, 1993)
An Emerging Role for Mental Health Professionals
(Fuselier, 1987) (Ebert, 1986)
There is a divide between law enforcement professionals and scholars. Many believed that the inclusion of outside mental health consultants would hinder the negotiation process. This was not true for Bruce Ebert. He began by pointing out that nearly every article written about hostage negotiation include words such as; "psychology," "psychological," "psychiatric," and "behavior,"(Ebert, 1986). He could not help but question why certain law enforcement workers would not eagerly welcome mental health professionals to the negotiation team for consulting. Furthermore he felt like there should be no limitations to the roles of the mental health workers. This view is completely contrary to that of Fuselier. He encouraged mental health professionals to assist the negotiations but only as a consultant and nothing more.
From , Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 17(6), 580-585, December 1986
With the table Ebert wanted to point out the parallels between a good negotiator and a good psychologist.
Ebert had a vision for a mental health response team that worked hand in hand with law enforcement on a regular basis. This model would put the mental health professional on the front lines. He listed out the roles of the MHRT. (Ebert, 1986)
- To provide on-site negotiation in hostage or terrorist situations (optional).
- To funnel information from a variety of sources to the on-site commander and negotiator.
- To advise the on-site commander and negotiator about various interpersonal dynamics that may affect the outcome of the crisis.
- To compile information on hostage situations in order to become expert in such an encounter.
- To bring to bear a unique set of knowledge and skills of human behavior in order to help successfully resolve a hostage situation.
- To help with the adjustment process of hostages and their families after a crisis in order to reduce psychological trauma and encourage healthy adjustments. Here is a table of what the hostage situation would look like.
From , Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 17(6), 580-585, December 1986
Direct intervention model
Direct intervention model
Duties of the Mental Health Practitioner (Butler, 1993)
- Consultant regarding specific negotiation techniques
- Interviewer of others for backgroung on the perpetrator and hostages
- Consultant on the assessment of the perpertrator
- Liason with other mental health professionals involved with the perpetrator
- Counselor for police and victims after the incident
- Post incident critique provider for the police.
Functions of the Mental Health Practitioner (Feldmann, 2004)
On the scene mental health professionals function in several different ways. Each function and duty is critical to the safe release of the hostages and hopefully minimizing or eliminating any injury to the hostage taker and hostages.
- Diagnoses and assessment of hostage and barricade situation.
- Evaluation of negotiation and management strategies.
- Monitoring of stress during hostage/barricade situation
- Training of negotiators on basic mental health issues.
- Development of training scenarios for both negotiator and tactical units.
- Research into characteristics of hostage/barricade incidents and the success of various negotiation strategies.
