Hostage

Hostage Negotiations

In line with Robert Louden

about Hostage in the Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement:

Hostage taking is an ancient form of criminal activity, and it was even an accepted tool of diplomacy in certain societies. Although such acts have a long history, they are still employed today, as demonstrated in Iraq in 2004, where various factions have seized military and civilian personnel from several countries as hostages in hostilities between those factions and United States forces. Hostage taking is defined by the United Nations as “the seizing or detaining and threatening to kill, injure, or continue to detain another person to compel a third party to do or abstain from doing any act as a condition for the release of the hostage.” Prior to 1973, hostage negotiation did not exist as a function in United States

Homicide

Homicide Investigation

In line with Vernon J. Geberth

about Homicide in the Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement:

Homicide investigation is a profound duty with awesome responsibilities. The homicide investigator becomes keenly aware of the reality of death and the impact it has on both society and the surviving family. It requires the investigator to develop an understanding of the dynamics of human behavior, as well as the essential details of professional investigation. The purpose of homicide investigation is to bring justice to the deceased and his or her surviving family, and also to uphold society's interest in apprehending those who commit such acts. This mission is accomplished by conducting a professional and intelligent investigation that results in the identification and apprehension of the killer and a successful prosecution.

Homicide Trends in the United States

In line with Alfred Blumstein

about Homicide in the Encyclopedia of Law Enforcement:

Homicide rates in the United States of America had been declining steadily since they reached a peak in 1991-1993. As each report came out, the nation-and particularly the mayors and police chiefs-celebrated the steady decline. By 2000, the rates had reached their lowest level in more than 30 years. For most of that period, United States homicide rates oscillated between about 8 and 10 homicides per 100,000 population, a rate that is about five times that of most industrial countries. That rate was 8 in 1985 and climbed about 25% to a value of 10 by 1991, has been declining steadily since 1993, and by 2000 was under 6 per 100,000. These results are shown in Figure 2 , along with the graph for robbery (scaled down by a factor of 25), which follows the homicide rate rather closely.