A BRIEF REVIEW, OF THE HISTORY AND CHANGES IN HOSTAGE TAKING, NOTES THAT, WHEREAS KIDNAPERS ONCE LIMITED THEIR CHOICE OF HOSTAGES TO MEMBERS OF THE SOCIAL ELITE, MODERN KIDNAPERS KNOW THEIR DEMANDS ARE LIKELY TO BE MET REGARDLESS OF THE SOCIAL CLASS OF THEIR HOSTAGES. KNOWING THAT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE WILL ALWAYS BE TO GUARD THE LIFE OF THE HOSTAGE, THE KIDNAPER CAN CONCENTRATE ON CREATING A CLOSE ENOUGH TIE WITH THE HOSTAGE TO ENSURE THAT THE KIDNAPER'S DEATH WOULD MEAN THE DEATH OF THE HOSTAGE. FACTORS IN THE HOSTAGE TAKER'S CHOICE OF METHOD (REMAINING AT THE SCENE, REMOVING HOSTAGES TO ANOTHER LOCATION, HIJACKINGS, THREATENED BOMBINGS, ETC.) ARE REVIEWED, AS ARE DETERMINANTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR AGENCY FROM WHOM THE RANSOM IS TO BE EXTORTED. FIVE DIFFERENT TARGETS FOR RANSOM EXTORTION ARE IDENTIFIED: BANKS, HOSTAGES THEMSELVES, RELATIVES OF HOSTAGES, AIRLINES, AND GOVERNMENTS. FEATURES OF HOSTAGE-TAKING INCIDENTS INVOLVING EACH OF THESE TARGETS ARE REVIEWED AND ILLUSTRATED IN DETAILED CASE STUDIES OF INCIDENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN WEST GERMANY, THE UNITED STATES, AND ELSEWHERE. SEE NCJ-56780 FOR A CONTINUATION OF THIS REPORT. (LKM)