Surviving a Hostage Incident

1. Surviving a Hostage Incident Informationprepared by members of the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Jail Officer Training Committee By: Matthew Kuehl

2. Objectives: • Some of the basic reasons for hostage situations in correctional facilities; • Early warning signs of possible hostage situations; • Profiles of victim officers in hostage situations; • Predictable inmate behavior during a hostage situation; • Psychological stages experienced both by hostages and hostage takers during a hostage situation; • Suggested guidelines for what to do if you become a hostage; • Hostage survival techniques; • Proper action during tactical operations to end hostage situations; and • Aftermath of a hostage situation: what to expect.

3. Common Reasons for Hostage Situations in Correctional Facilities • Institutional conditions, such as changes in food service, living conditions, or privileges afforded to residents. When residents perceive that conditions have changed for the worse, they may become upset and plan a disturbance. Similarly, when residents perceive that there have been incidents of abuse of residents by staff members-real or alleged-they sometimes react by planning hostage incidents. • Actions by allegedly mentally impaired residents. Such residents may do inappropriate things, including taking hostages, because of their mental impairment-meaning possible mental disorder or developmental disabilities. In some cases, their actions may be quite impulsive and/or based on a severe misperception of reality. In other cases, it may be because they are sociopaths, people who care little for other people and who do things to enhance their own sense of personal power.

4. Political causes. Residents may engage in hostage-taking as a means of advancing or promoting political causes. Such residents may include gang members, members of subversive groups, and members of miscellaneous self-styled groups with specific goals and objectives. • As a means of escape. Residents have been known to take hostages as a means of escape, by demanding their freedom in exchange for freeing their hostage (s). • As an outcome of disturbances of various sorts.As a result of a riot or other significant correctional emergency, residents sometimes take hostages. Their doing so may be a spontaneous reaction to the event, or it may be planned. For example, residents have been known to stage a fight or riot so that officers will enter the living area to intervene, and then attempt to overpower the officers in order to take them hostage.

5. Early Warning Signs of Possible Impending Hostage Situations Sometimes it is possible to detect indications of an impending jail incident involving hostage-taking. This is because residents often plan these events in advance. However, they do not always do so; sometimes hostage-taking is a spontaneous reaction to a disturbance situation or other correctional emergency. There are a number of common warning signs that residents may have planned or are planning an event which will involve the taking of hostages. It is important for corrections officers to be aware of these and to pay attention. Some of the early warning signs are as follows:

6. Residents saving large amounts of food. Residents may prepare for a planned disturbance by saving portions of their meals, so that they will have things to eat during a prolonged incident during which they will not get their usual meals. • Increase requests from residents to be moved to a different cellblock. When residents know that a disturbance is being planned, they may request to be moved to a different cellblock because they do not wish to become involved in the disturbance, or they may want to be moved to be a part of the disturbance. Thus, more inmate requests than usual for such transfers may be an indicator of a pending disturbance emergency.

7. Avoidance of officers by residents. Any change in normal resident behavior can be an indictor of a pending or current problem situation. One such change is when residents seem to be avoiding officers—such as by not making eye contact, not talking to officers, or responding to questions or remarks with short, curt answers. Such behavior may mean little, or it could be an indicator of pending trouble. • Increased attendance by residents at particular programs. This is another change in resident behavior that could be indicative of a planned disturbance. Residents may increase their attendance at religious services, educational programming, or a recreation program. This may facilitate congregation to plan a disturbance, or gathering equipment or supplies to use during a disturbance, or as a way to get away from their cellblock when a disturbance is to occur.

8. Unusual quietness among residents. Any change in normal resident behavior can be an indicator of a pending problem. One such change is that residents simply act more quiet and subdued than usual. Often, this is when they tend to make either more or less eye contact with officers than they usually do. On the other hand, it is possible that some residents may be louder and more boisterous than usual when a disturbance has been planned, because they are “psyching up” for the event. • Information from other residents. Information is valuable in a correctional facility. Residents will often tell staff about unusual or problematic things that they become aware of. Residents may warn staff about pending disturbances (riots, fights, hostage episodes) for any number of reasons. Never disregard information given to you by a resident.

9. These are justsome of the possible warning signs of impending disturbance situations, which could include hostage-taking. There are certainly more. Can you think of any? The bottom line is that correctional officers must always pay close attention to the behavior of residents, and should be especially aware of changes in “normal” or routine behavior. Such changes could mean little, but they can always be indicators of a pending possibly-serious correctional emergency.

10. Profiles of Victim Officers When residents plan to take officers hostage, they sometimes do so randomly. They simply grab whoever is around; the victims were simply in the wrong place at the right time. That may happen during an unplanned riot or other disturbance in which residents want to take retribution against officers in general. In many other cases, however, residents plan in advance who they will take hostage. They target specific officers. When they do so, there are several factors that often enter in to the decision as to who to take hostage. Some of these factors include the following:

11. The “lenient” officer. The “lenient” officer is one who, in comparison with other officers, tends to exhibit one or more of the following characteristics: • Does not always follow rules, especially in regard to policies and procedures. For example, he or she may enter the site of a correctional emergency without waiting for backup officers; • May be the kind person who is easily “conned”, persuaded by inmates to do something inappropriate or not allowed; • Tends to use less physical force than a reasonable officer would use in a similar situation; • Has a history of making tactically poor decisions, based on the Disturbance Resolution document; • Tends to be friendly to all residents, and has difficulty saying “No” even when saying “No” is clearly appropriate. Such an officer may wish to be liked and therefore is uncomfortable with exerting proper authority and control. Residents may feel that such an officer is an easy target for hostage-taking.

12. The “Jerkhead” Officer. The “jerkhead” officer is one who, in comparison with other officers, is overly tough or macho or otherwise difficult in his or her dealings with residents. Such an officer may exhibit one or more of the following characteristics: • Tends to be the subject of a lot of excessive force complaints; • Uses poor Professional Communication skills with residents, such as not listening well, giving orders or directives in an overly-authoritative manner, being sarcastic or demeaning or otherwise disrespectful, etc.; • Tends to too often provoke or anger residents, through poor interpersonal communication. The officer may say things that are insulting, demeaning, belittling, or challenging; • Applies discipline harshly and/or inconsistently. The officer may discipline one resident very differently from another resident for the same or similar rule violation; or enforces some rules much more stringently than other rules; or applies different discipline standards from one day to the next, so that residents cannot predict how the officer will react to a given situation.

13. Never uses any discretion or common sense when enforcing facility rules. The word “lenient” is not part of their vocabulary. Residents may feel angry or upset with the behavior of such an officer, and may take him or her hostage as a form of grievance resolution. • The out of shape officer The out of shape officer is one who “looks” out of shape. Such an officer may exhibit some of the following characteristics: • Overweight • Non professional dress; ripped uniform, wrinkled uniform, uniform to big or to small • Poor hygiene; uncombed hair, bad breath, body odor, smoker • Older in age • The female officer. The female officer is seen by residents as weaker and an easier target than male officer. This may not be actually true, but is a stereotype often heard.

14. Predictable Resident Behavior and Occurrences During Hostage Situations Based on hostage situations that have occurred in jails and prisons over the years, it is possible to list several patterns of predictable resident behavior. This is not to say that these behavior patterns will occur in any given situation, only that these are things that have happened in a number of situations and therefore could happen in similar situations. The following are some of the more common resident behavior patterns during hostage situations:

15. A group of residents, rather than a single resident, are frequently the hostage takers.The group of residents has planned the incident in advance, and generally has planned for some contingencies. For example, they may have hoarded food, knowing that the situation may drag out and they will not be fed during it. Or, they may have planned to use wet towels to put over their faces in the event that OC or other chemicals substances are used by staff responding to the incident. Often, one resident assumes the role of leader of the group. The leader has convinced others to help do what he or she could not do alone. It is not always true that hostage situations are planned in advance. Some incidents are not planned but are instead spontaneous by a resident or residents to something that happens.

16. Initially, the safety of the hostages will probably be of major importance to hostage takers. There are several reasons for this: • The residents fear reprisals in the event that a hostage is harmed or killed; • The residents know the hostage, and the residents know that they will have to deal with those hostages after the crisis is over; • The residents know that their bargaining position depends on keeping the hostages in a relatively safe and unharmed condition. • If a hostage situation is prolonged, the safety of hostages may be more at risk. There are several reasons for this: • The original resident leader(s) and spokesperson(s) can only be expected to maintain control over other residents for so long. Other residents may seek an opportunity to gain control of the situation; • A new group of residents taking control of the situation may be more volatile and radical and even less emotionally stable;

17. In any correctional institution, there are usually residents who feel that they have been treated unfairly by staff members. Such residents may see a hostage situation as an opportunity to seek revenge on staff members. This may include not only residents who are the hostage takers, but also residents who are not the actual hostage takers but who verbally argue the hostage takers to harm or kill the hostage(s). • As a situation goes on and is not resolved, the requests or demands of the resident(s) may become more unreasonable and unable to be satisfied. When that happens, residents may be inclined to harm hostages because their (residents’) demands are not being met. • Residents may switch clothes with officers in an effort to eliminate immediate identification. In some cases, residents may do so if they think a forceful resolution to the crisis is imminent. They are trying to enhance their own survival chances.

18. Residents will secure all keys and communication devices from hostages. Even though keys and radios may not get them out of the facility, it gives them a feeling of power. • Residents may threaten violence, or even use violence. There is the possibility for hostages to be physically or sexually assaulted. This may happen because residents feel that they need to make a strong statement to demonstrate their seriousness, out of frustration, or just because they are violent people and/or emotionally-disturbed persons. • Hostage takers may use hostages as communication tools. They may ask or order hostages to transmit information between them (hostage takers) and the authorities, including hostage negotiator(s). This may happen either verbally, by telephone or radio, or via written notes.

19. Residents will likely set up barricades to prevent or slow down the rescue team from responding quickly in the location. Material for such barricades will include whatever is available, such as movable furniture, blankets or other bedding, mattresses, soapy mop bucket water or other hazardous liquid, etc. • Hostages will be secured, usually in a cell or other inaccessible area. This, of course, depends on the circumstances of any individual incident. For example, if residents take over the entire living area they will likely secure the hostages in one cell or room, or perhaps in several cells or rooms. But in some cases, a hostage situation takes place in a smaller, more contained area such as an individual cell or room. In such case, the hostages and hostage takers may be together in that cell or room during the duration of the event.

20. Residents will likely fabricate weapons to be used. Such weapons may include stabbing and/or cutting instruments, blunt instruments, broom handles made into spears, cleaning instruments, aerosol devices, and so on. Remember that many residents are extremely ingenious at creating such weapons out of basic materials. At the extreme, residents may have access to firearms; that could happen, if a transport officer has been taken hostage. Access by residents to materials that can be fabricated into weapons often depends on how much physical area they temporarily control in a hostage situation. • Hostages may be used as shields, as protection during a physical confrontation or a tactical response.

21. It is possible for there to be transference of feelings, known as the “Stockholm Syndrome,” in a prolonged situation. This refers to the development of positive emotional bond between the hostages and hostage takers, in which the hostages come to identify with the hostage takers and to share their “us versus them” feelings. Sometimes hostage takers are successful at convincing hostages that they are political prisoners and somehow share a bond with the hostages, such as being repressed by authority figures. The “Stockholm Syndrome” is more likely to occur in a hostage situation that lasts a long time. • Note: see APPENDIX, The “Stockholm Syndrome”: What Is It, for a more detailed explanation of this issue These are some of the more common things that have happened in hostage situations in jails and prisons. It is important to be aware that these things are likely to happen in hostage situations, so you will be better prepared for these eventualities.

22. Psychological Stages Experienced by Hostages and Hostage Takers During Hostage Situations Based on what has happened in a number of hostage situations (not just in correctional situations), researchers have identified several common psychological stages that are generally experienced by hostages and hostage takers during such incidents. These include the following:

23. Frustration In general, people experience feelings of frustration when they cannot reach a goal of some kind. In a hostage situation, a common goal is to be free. The hostages want to be free from the hostage takers, and the hostage-takers wish to be free from incarceration. When these goals are not realized, it is natural for people to feel frustrated. • Anxiety Feelings of anxiety are a result of frustration. We often feel anxious when we perceive that we cannot achieve goals, particularly when our inability to do so is out of control. Symptoms of anxiety typically include restlessness, accelerated heartbeat, inability to breathe properly, flushing, sweating, headaches and/or stomachaches, and sometimes a feeling of being out of control. The degree of these symptoms can range from mild to severe.

24. When people feel anxious, they generally do things which will relieve their feelings of anxiety. These may be positive actions, such as exercise, deep breathing, meditation, etc.; or negative actions, such as using alcohol or drugs, behaving violently, or otherwise acting out. In a hostage situation, the resident hostage takers are more likely to take negative actions to relieve their feelings of anxiety. Such actions, unfortunately, may result in harm to hostages. For example, a hostage taker may lash out and physically harm a hostage. Or, a resident may destroy property or may do something impulsively that is counterproductive to his or her best interests. Similarly, hostages may do negative things to try to relieve their feelings of anxiety. That could include engaging in verbal confrontation. These actions are most always counterproductive to the best interest of such hostages. On the other hand, hostages always have the option of using positive methods of trying to relieve stress. These methods include such techniques as autogenic breathing, envisioning pleasant images, and doing positive self-talk. (These techniques are discussed in the section which follows).

25. Fear Whereas anxiety is an emotional response that may arise from a general situation, fear is an emotional response that is related to something specific. A hostage might, for example, be afraid of something specific, such as being killed, being crippled, or being raped. This can apply both to hostage and hostage takers. Fear is the primary cause of conflict in most hostage situations. From the perspective of a hostage, for example, the specific fear of being killed by hostage takers may cause a hostage to take an inappropriate action such as provoking a physical confrontation. • Fantasy Fantasizing about nice, pleasant things is a useful psychological tool for people in general, and is very useful psychological tool during difficult situations or incidents.

26. Fantasy is a way to release tension, and can be used as a means of temporarily escaping mentally from a difficult situation. In a hostage situation (or other difficult situation), a person may find himself simply drifting into fantasy, or a person may deliberately choose to engage in a fantasy. A hostage may, for example, fantasize about being in a pleasant place or situation, ranging from his or her home to a desirable recreational location to an imagined exotic locale. Or, a hostage might fantasize about a real or imagined romantic, sexual, or other encounter. Engaging in such fantasies is natural, and is certainly a useful psychological method for coping with a bad situation in which control of one’s fate is, at least to some degree, out of one’s hands. In this sense, engaging in fantasy is a recommended technique if you have been taken hostage. On the other hand, fantasy is something that can go too far.

27. It is a fine and useful temporary way to escape from a harsh reality, but a person who has been taken hostage has to balance fantasy with reality. That is, it would be counterproductive for a hostage to spend so much time fantasizing about pleasant things that he or she is oblivious to what is actually happening and therefore is not able to make appropriate decisions and take appropriate actions. • Repression The term repression refers to the psychological mechanism of suppressing harmful or painful memories associated with specific events, or with a series of related events. Repression is an involuntary survival mechanism as it allows a person who has suffered from traumatic experience to keep on functioning rather than being psychologically “crippled” and unable to function in everyday life. For example, a person who has been the victim of sexual

28. abuse as a child may repress the memories of such sexual abuse. Doing so allows him or her to keep on living a normal life instead of being consumed by painful, perhaps horrible memories. On the other hand, such repression may prevent a person from facing their difficult feelings and taking steps to deal with them appropriately, such as seeking and participating in professional therapy. Repression may occur during an ongoing hostage situation, and after a situation has ended. Repression of difficult memories is most common following a situation. It is important for those who have been taken hostage to be aware of the psychological after-effects and to be willing to seek professional assistance when necessary.

29. Hostage Survival Techniques This section contains a number of basic (general) guidelines to keep in mind if you are ever taken hostage. Remember that the key goal of all those basic guidelines is survival-your survival and that of any fellow hostages. If you emerge from the hostage situation alive, then you have won. If you emerge unhurt as well, you have won even more. When working in a correctional facility, being taken hostage is - as has been discussed – always possible. This is true whether or not one is an officer who falls into one of the above profiles of “victim” officers. Even officers who are fair and consistent may be taken hostage. The possibility of being taken hostage is simply part of the job.

30. The basic techniques include the following: • Set goals. Your main goal is survive. In order to realize that goal, you need to do positive self-talk – to tell yourself over and over that you will survive. This may be in the form of a mantra – a phrase that you say to yourself over an over – such as, “I will survive, no matter what.” By doing this, you essentially program your brain to a particular point of view, and that has a major effect on both your attitude and your body’s physical reaction to what happens. It works! You might also set lesser goals as well. For example, your goal might be to eat, sleep or exercise. Setting such goals allows you to focus on something positive, and doing that can help you get through a difficult short-term situation.

31. Accept your situation, be patient, and be prepared to wait. Try not to become discouraged. This is a key guideline. If you have been taken hostage, you are in a situation in which you have lost much control over your fate. You simply have to try to accept that fact, and also understand that it may take a lot of time for authorities to safely resolve the situation. It may be very frustrating for you to accept these things, but it’s important to try to do so. Your safety and the safety of others are at stake. The first 15 to 45 minutes of a hostage situation are the most volatile and dangerous time for all concerned. During that time frame, it is particularly important to try your best to be calm and controlled. Accepting your situation means realizing that the hostage-takers are temporarily in control. They now “call the shots” rather than jail staff doing so, at least within a limited sphere.

32. This means that you, as their hostage, may have to follow their instructions – at least as much as possible. Doing so minimizes the likelihood of friction or anger, which could result in their harming you and/or other hostages. It is natural for you to want the situation to end as quickly as possible so that you can be freed and be safe. However, hostage situations often take a lot of time to resolve. Hostage negotiators want to end situations safely, and that cannot always be resolved simply and quickly. It may appear at times that your department or other departments are not doing anything and that the situation is dragging on. Without a doubt, that will be frustrating for you. You may not be able to see the big picture. Try to understand that the goal is to resolve the situation safely, and that will most likely take more time than you think it should. Assembling the necessary resources may take time.

33. Take a low-key approach. Do not become confrontational with hostage takers. It is not to your advantage to become confrontational with hostage-takers. Remember: they are in control, not you. If you confront or challenge them, they may react by harming you or other hostages, or by becoming less willing to cooperate with hostage negotiators and others. Specifically, never insult or demean hostage-takers. Never remind them that you are an officer and therefore have authority. And never threaten them with retaliation once the incident has been resolved. You may feel the desire to do these things, but don’t! It is best to just keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself. It is best to simply take a low-key approach, and speak only when spoken to. Answer their questions the best you can, but do not lie. Your goal is to get through the situation the best you can, not to be a hero.

34. Do not make suggestions to hostage taker(s). You may wish to offer ideas, suggestions of “promises” to help get the situation resolved, but don’t! IF your suggestion goes bad, the hostage-taker may think that you planned it and may then retaliate against you or others. • Cooperate with the hostage taker(s) and comply with their reasonable demands. If the hostage takers ask you to do something or – more likely – tell you to do something, comply if you can. Again, do not become confrontational or argumentative, because to do so is not to your advantage in a situation when they (the hostage takers) are in control. For a time, they are the ones who are in control and who are in the position of authority. Your goal is to do what is necessary to get through that time to a better time, when they are no longer in control.

35. For example, hostage takers may tell you to move to a specific place or to be quiet or to get them something or to submit to being blindfolded. They may order you to take off your uniform and switch into inmate clothing. They may also order you to enter a particular room or cell or other area. These may not be unreasonable demands, though of course you may not like them. On the other hand, they may order you to do something that would seriously compromise facility security or safety of staff and inmates. They may order you to perform a degrading or sexual act. Those demands may not be reasonable, and you might refuse. Or, a hostage taker may ask or demand that you read a political statement of some sort, sometimes in front of media representatives. Depending on the content of such statements and the circumstances in a particular situation, you may or may not feel that that is a reasonable demand. In short, cooperate and comply to ensure your safety and thatof others in a difficult situation.

36. Observe what is going on and try to keep mental notes, so as to aid investigators following the incident. Following a hostage incident, investigators will question you about what happened during the incident. This may be done as part of a “critical incident debriefing.” This is a common procedure that is done after any sort of significant incident in a jail to analyze the incident and to determine the appropriateness of actions taken and to see what can be done to improve future response to similar incidents. (Note: critical incident debriefings are discussed later, in the section entitled Aftermath of Hostage Situations.)

37. Do the best you can to observe the situation and to try to keep mental notes on what you have observed. In particular, try to keep mental notes about the following issues: • Identities of the inmates involved, including any leader(s); • Whether inmates assaulted anyone. Try to remember the names of the perpetrators and victims of such assaults, and any detail about the assaults; • Whether any hostage takers or other inmates protected you or any other hostages. If so, who were they and how did they so protect? • Whether any crimes were apparently committed by any inmates; • Whether there were any weapons (real or fabricated). If so, what and how many? • You are the victim of a crime, and are potentially a witness to many other crimes. Be observant of details. You will likely be called to testify in court.

38. Remain calm. Use autogenic breathing and other positive coping techniques. If you are taken hostage, you are likely to feel anxious, fearful, and upset. After all you are in a situation in which your fate is out of your control, in the hands of others, and in which you could be harmed. You cannot predict how long the situation will go on, and you cannot just get up and leave. Even in such an anxiety-producing and difficult situation, you always have the ability to try to control your emotional response. It is very much to your advantage to do so. You need to do all you can to calm yourself and to stay as clam and in control of your emotions as you can during the ordeal.

39. One way to calm yourself is to use autogenic breathing. This means doing deep, even breathing, inhaling through your nostrils and exhaling through your mouth. Doing this will cause a physiological calming response in your body because it enhances oxygen delivery to your brain. Another way to calm yourself is to envision something pleasant and to concentrate on that image, over and over. This may be a particular location or a particular activity, and so on. Doing this is known as “visualization.” Or, you may engage in fantasy, as discussed above. Also, as noted, try to use positive self-talk, giving yourself the positive message that you will get through this and survive. When you give yourself such messages, you can effectively program your mind and body in such a way that your chances for survival increase.

40. Attempt to avoid being blindfolded or hooded. As noted above, when you are taken hostage you should cooperate with hostage takers and comply with their reasonable demands, to the maximum extent possible. One such demand may be for you to be blindfolded or to wear a hood. You may have no choice about whether to be blindfolded or hooded. But if you do have any choice about it, avoid that if you can. The chance of being harmed by hostage-takers increases when there is no longer eye contact between hostages and hostage-takers. Eye contact is personal, and when there is no longer eye contact it becomes more of a depersonalized situation and then there is greater chance of harm. Thus, if there is any way to avoid losing eye contact – such as by being blindfolded or hooded – try to do so.

41. If possible, avoid locating yourself near windows and doors. These are natural avenues for rescue attempts, and it is possible that you might get hurt. However, you may have no control over where you are placed. • If you or anyone else needs special medication, inform the hostage taker(s). Do so politely and, if possible, do so in the form of a request rather than a demand. • Do not try to negotiate for your own release once trained hostage negotiators have made contact with the hostage taker(s). Before hostage negotiators have made contact with the hostage takers, it may be possible for you to talk to hostage takers and maybe even to convince them to let you go and stop the incident.

42. However, be VERY careful about what you say, and be sure not to exceed the bounds of your authority. If you make promises of bargains that you do not have the authority to make or to follow through on, just for the sake of getting out of a situation, you could make the situation worse. For example, you cannot tell hostage takers that they will be given amnesty if they will agree to let you go. You do not have the authority to say that. Once the hostage negotiators arrive, let them do their job. They are the professional in this area. If you try to negotiate or make bargains separately, you will likely subvert their work. That could increase the chance of danger to you and other hostages.

43. Cooperate in the negotiation as best you can. You may be ordered to be the “go-between” with the hostage negotiators and the hostage-takers. If so, relay messages accurately and neutrally – with as little emotion as possible. Do not add your editorial comments to messages, even though you may be tempted to do so. Remember: the negotiation process may take a long time, and you may feel frustrated at the amount of time that it takes. But be patient. There is no point to hurrying.

44. Proper Action During Tactical Operations to End Hostage Situations Hostage situations will likely end in one of three ways: (1) there will be a negotiated settlement; (2) special teams will end the situation by tactical use of force; or (3) inmates will just give up and decide on their own to end the situation. The last is the least common way for such situations to end. If you are a hostage during a tactical operation to end a hostage incident, try to do the following: • If possible, fall to the floor and stay motionless; • Seek cover, if possible; • If oleoresin capsicum (OC) aerosol spray or some other chemical agent is used, try to cover your mouth and nose with a towel or article of clothing, if possible;

45. Comply immediately with any and all directions or orders issued by the rescue team. Rescue team members will probably be shouting loudly (verbal stunning). The members of the rescue team may not be able to immediately differentiate between hostages and hostage takers – particularly if hostages are wearing inmate clothing; • Expect to be secured and moved out of the area, until you are identified.

46. Aftermath of Hostage Situations When a hostage situation has ended and you have emerged alive and – hopefully – unhurt physically, then in that respect you have won. No matter what else has happened, you have won. That is the bottom line. Nevertheless, the situation will likely have emotional after effects that are common to people who have been taken hostage. Also, there will likely be certain follow-up activities that occur, such as critical incident debriefing and critical incident stress debriefing. It is important to be aware of some of these aftermath elements, so that you will be better prepared to deal with them if necessary.

47. Critical Incident Debriefing. A “critical incident debriefing” will almost certainly be conducted following a hostage incident. This is a somewhat formal procedure which is done after any sort of significant incident in a correctional setting – including inmate suicides, escapes, disturbance emergencies or other type of correctional emergencies. It is an attempt to better understand what can be done to improve future response to similar incidents, in regard to policies and procedures, training, or other aspects of the correctional operation. The main purpose of such a debriefing is to focus on the facts of the incident, whatever they may be.

48. At some point soon after a hostage incident, one or more investigators or other officials will probably question you to try to obtain specific, detailed information. This information will be useful in analyzing the incident, and determining what actions to take – perhaps including charges against involved inmates. Some of the typical questions they may ask include: • Can you identify the inmates involved, including any leader(s)? • Did you witness any assaults? • Were you harmed by any hostage-takers? Did you see any inmates harming any other hostage(s)? • Did any inmates protect you or other hostage(s)? • Did you see any crimes being committed by inmates? • Were there any weapons? If so, what and how many? Who had them? When and how were they used?

49. Critical Incident Stress Debriefing. In addition to a critical incident debriefing, you may also be offered the chance to participate in a procedure known as a “critical incident stress debriefing” if you were involved in a hostage situation. This is a structured opportunity for you to talk about your feelings and emotions, based on what happened in the incident, with a trained person or persons. The purpose of doing so is to help understand and accept your feelings, so that you can move foreword from the incident in a healthy way. Critical incident stress debriefing is very important. A hostage situation is inherently a traumatic incident, and it is natural for anyone to have a variety of difficult feelings and emotions after such an event. Even the strongest, most emotionally-stable person needs a chance to talk constructively about such a traumatic incident, to heal from it. If a person does not talk constructively about difficult

50. emotions and instead keeps those feelings pent up inside, healing will take longer and it is more likely that a person will seek more negative ways to cope with their feelings and emotions – possibly including alcohol or drug use, taking it out on loved ones and friends and co-workers. Depending upon the policies of your agency, you may be required to participate in a critical incident stress debriefing, or it may simply be offered to you as an opportunity. If it is an option, you will always do yourself, your family, friends and co-workers a big favor by taking advantage of the opportunity. Do not think of it as a sign of weakness, vulnerability, or self-indulgence that you are talking to a trained person about your feelings and emotions. However, participating in critical incident stress debriefing does not mean that you will not experience difficult and troubling emotions for a period of time – perhaps a long time – following a hostage incident.