SITUATIONS IN WHICH HOSTAGES WERE TAKEN INCLUDE BANK ROBBERY, SIMPLE ROBBERY, PRISON ESCAPES, ATTEMPTED ARRESTS, FAMILY CONFLICTS, DISORDERLY CONDUCT OF A DRUNKEN OFFENDER, AND OTHER CRISES. MORE THAN THREE OFFENDERS PARTICIPATED IN ONLY ONE CASE; MOST HOSTAGES (72 PERCENT) WERE REQUIRED TO ACCOMPANY OFFENDERS. POLICE INTERVENED IN 45 PERCENT OF THE CASES (IN 32 PERCENT WITH GUNS) BUT USED PERSUASION IN ONLY 18 PERCENT. THE HOSTAGE TAKERS WERE ARMED IN 97 PERCENT OF THE CASES AND THREATENED HOSTAGES FREQUENTLY BUT ONLY USED THE WEAPONS IN LESS THAN 18 PERCENT OF THE CASES. HOSTAGES WERE WOUNDED IN 23 PERCENT OF THE CASES, AND GUNS WERE THE MOST COMMON WEAPON. FINDINGS INDICATE THAT WEAPONS ARE MOST COMMONLY EMPLOYED IN BANK ROBBERIES, THAT USE OF GUNS IN HOSTAGE SITUATIONS IS DECREASING, AND THAT POLICE ARE LIKELY TO RESPOND WITH WEAPONS IF OFFENDERS ARE WIELDING THEM. GENERALLY, THE DANGER OF THE HOSTAGE TAKERS' SHOOTING THE HOSTAGES INCREASES WHEN POLICE INTERVENE, SUGGESTING THAT POLICE SHOULD MODIFY THEIR INTERVENTION PROCEDURES AND PLACE LESS EMPHASIS ON ARMED SPECIAL UNITS WHICH MAY ONLY ESCALATE THE DANGER AND MORE EMPHASIS ON TRAINING ALL OFFICERS TO HANDLE HOSTAGE SITUATIONS IN A LOW-KEY MANNER. NOTES AND TABLES ARE FURNISHED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)