NCJ Number
45626
Journal
JUSTITIEELE VERKENNINGEN Issue: 4 Dated: (1975) Pages: 156-161
Date Published
1975
Length
6 pages
Annotation
HOSTAGE TAKING HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY PROFITABLE DUE TO TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND THE GROWING SOPHISTICATION OF CRIMINALS.
Abstract
SINCE THE FREEDOM OF ALL PEOPLE IN A MODERN STATE IS GUARANTEED, ALL POSSIBLE ACTIONS WILL BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE OFFICIAL AUTHORITIES TO SAVE THE LIFE OF A HOSTAGE. FOR THE ABDUCTION OF HOSTAGES TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THE CAPTOR MUST CORRECTLY JUDGE THE BEHAVIORAL REACTIONS OF HIS PRISONERS. THIS KNOWLEDGE OF HOSTAGES' PERSONALITIES EVOLVES FROM CRIMINAL EXPERIENCE. TO PROFIT FROM THE CRIME, CAPTORS CAN THREATEN THIRD PARTIES TO EXTORT MONEY. HOSTAGE TAKING HAS BECOME MORE PROFITABLE AS TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO CONTROL MECHANISMS, THE RISKS OF CAPTURE CAN BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM, AND THE NECESSITY OF DIRECT PHYSICAL CONTROL OVER HOSTAGES IS ELIMINATED. PAYMENTS OF RANSOM MONEY HAVE BEEN MADE BY BANKS, THE HOSTAGES THEMSELVES, RELATIVES OF THE HOSTAGES, AIRLINES, AND THE STATE. MOST CAPTORS ARE APPREHENDED AT THE TIME THEY RECEIVE THE RANSOM MONEY. THE AVERAGE CAPTOR USUALLY POSSESSES NORMAL INTELLIGENCE, WITH SOME HAVING TECHNICAL EXPERTISE. A SPECIAL COMMISSION SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO HANDLE A HOSTAGE CRISIS. IT SHOULD BE DIVIDED INTO FOLLOWING TEAMS: AN ACTION GROUP, A TEAM TO INFORM THE PRESS, TECHNICAL SPECIALISTS, A SEARCH TEAM, AND A BACKUP TEAM. --IN DUTCH (WVK)