THE USE OF MENTAL-HEALTH PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS TO POLICE HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION TEAMS

Three hundred law enforcement agencies in the United States that emplo y a negotiator in hostage incidents responded to a survey regarding th e use of mental health professionals as consultants to the negotiation team. Thirty-nine percent of the agencies with a negotiator use a men tal health professional consultant to the negotiation team. Police age ncies that use a mental health professional as a consultant on negotia tion techniques reported more hostage incidents ending by negotiated s urrender and fewer hostage incidents ending by tactical team assault a nd arrest of the perpetrator. Also, police agencies that use a mental health professional as a consultant on the assessment of the perpetrat or reported fewer hostage incidents resulting in the serious injury or death of a hostage. Although these results are only correlational, th ey raise the possibility that the use of mental health professionals a s consultants to police hostage negotiation teams may decrease the ris k of hostage injury and death.