DEBRIEFING FOLLOWING A HOSTAGE-TAKING INCIDENT IS VIEWED AS A MEANS OF GAINING KNOWLEDGE AND INSIGHT FOR THE PURPOSE OF MORE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF FUTURE INCIDENTS. IT IS ALSO INDICATED TO BE AN IMPORTANT THERAPEUTIC EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE INVOLVED AS VICTIMS IN THE INCIDENT. THE ISSUE OF SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF THE OFFENDER IS DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF ITS DETERRENT EFFECT, AND THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF 'BAD FAITH' BARGAINING BY POLICE OR GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES IS CONSIDERED. THE VIEW PREVAILING AT THE CONFERENCE WAS THAT AGREEMENTS MADE UNDER DURESS IN THE OFFENDER-POLICE CONTEXT WERE NOT BINDING, WHILE AGREEMENTS MADE BY GOVERNMENTS IN NEGOTIATION WITH POLITICALLY MOTIVATED OFFENDERS SHOULD BE BINDING. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT PLANS TO CONTROL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT MADE A PARTICULAR INCIDENT POSSIBLE CAN HAVE A GREATER DETERRENT EFFECT THAN SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF THE OFFENDER. ISSUES DEALING WITH WHO PAYS FOR THE COSTS INVOLVED IN THE INCIDENT AND THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN PREREGISTERING ANY MONEY PAID IN RANSOM ARE DISCUSSED. (RCB)