In outlining law enforcement responses, ranging from negotiations to the use of a special weapons and tactics assault (SWAT), the article suggests that law enforcement personnel should always progress from an earlier to a later response. Strategies are given for negotiating with mentally disturbed persons, criminals trapped during the commission of a crime, prisoners in revolt, and terrorists. These strategies include the use of understanding and acceptance in dealing with mentally disturbed hostage takers with inadequate personalities, the use of rapid police action in dealing with prisoners, and efforts to maintain hostage safety in negotiating with terrorists. Elements of the Stockholm syndrome in which hostages begin to have positive feelings toward their captors are discussed, and suggestions for developing the positive aspects of the syndrome to promote hostage safety are given. For example, the hostage taker can be made to interact with the hostages in a positive way by gathering the names of the hostages or information concerning their medical condition. Five references are given.