CHILD HOSTAGES - INCIDENCE AND OUTCOME

This study reports on how often children are held hostage and the like lihood of their being physically harmed by the hostage taker: Ferry pe rcent of the negotiated hostage incidents reported by law enforcement agencies participating in the study involved child hostages One percen t of these negotiated incidents resulted in serious physical injury to a child hostage and 1% resulted in the death of a child hostage. In 8 5% of the negotiated hostage incidents involving a child hostage, the perpetrator was a relative. These results point to the need for mental health and law enforcement personnel who work in hostage situations t o be trained to deal with situations involving child hostages.