Hostagetakers can be categorized by psychological, criminal, and political types. Subgroupings of psychological types are suicidal, mentally disturbed, and the vengeance seeker. Types of criminal hostagetakers are the cornered perpetrator, the aggrieved inmate of a jail or prison, and the extortionist. Political types of hostagetakers are the social protestor, the ideological zealot, and the terrorist. Types of hostage situations are the singular situation (one person threatening suicide), one hostagetaker with one hostage, multiple hostagetakers with one hostage, one hostagetaker with several hostages, several hostagetakers with several hostages, multiple locations of multiple hostagetakers and hostages within a given area, multiple hostagetakers in multiple locations not in the same area, mobile hostagetaking, and remote control hostagetaking. Tactical considerations in negotiations with a hostagetaker include establishment of an inner and outer perimeter; intelligence collection; establishment of negotiations, preferably by telephone; and preparation for appropriate offensive action. Four types of offensive action should be considered: the use of chemical agents, deception, the use of a marksman, and an assault. The command post should consist of the following groups: (1) the group in the inner perimeter controlled by the tactical and rescue unit, (2) the group in control of the outer perimeter, (3) the negotiating team, (4) technicians or telephone and audio surveillance squads. Debriefing should begin as soon as possible after the operation is concluded. Organizational charts are provided.