NCJ Number
167594
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 65 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1996) Pages: 11-15
Date Published
1996
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Communication skills are critical for negotiators involved in critical incidents involving hostage takers or barricaded individuals and entail extra challenges when the person does not speak English.
Abstract
The first priority for negotiators attempting to establish dialogue with a person is to gauge the individual's level of fluency in English. Family members, neighbors, employers, and friends can provide information on this issue. Negotiators next must decide whether to conduct negotiations in English or in the foreign language. The advantages of negotiating in English generally outweigh the disadvantages. When negotiating in a foreign language, negotiators must decide whether to use a negotiator who speaks the language or use an interpreter. Each option has advantages and disadvantages. The negotiation team that uses an interpreter should instruct interpreters to convey only the team's comments and to act solely as a conduit of specified information. The identity and nationality of interpreters must remain anonymous. Negotiation teams should also include interpreters in debriefings following the incident. Communication is the crucial component in negotiations regardless of the approach used. Checklist and reference notes