THE ACT OF TAKING HOSTAGES IS FIRST EXAMINED IN RELATION TO THE MOTIVATION OF THE KIDNAPPER. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT HOSTAGES ARE TAKEN NOT ONLY TO SECURE A MONEY RANSOM, BUT ALSO AS A MEANS OF FACILITATING AN ESCAPE OR OF OBTAINING POLITICAL CONCESSIONS. HOSTAGE TAKING IS ALSO ANALYZED AS A VEHICLE FOR EITHER ESTABLISHING OR RE-ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION ON AN ISSUE OR SET OF ISSUES BETWEEN THE KIDNAPPER AND A SPECIFIC SOCIAL INSTITUTION. POLICE REACTIONS TO HOSTAGE SITUATIONS ARE CATEGORIZED ACCORDING TO THE APPARENT MOTIVATIONS OF THE KIDNAPPER. POLICE PROCEDURES FOR HANDLING SITUATIONS INVOLVING MENTALLY OR EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE PERSONS, HOSTAGES TAKEN IN THE COURSE OF COMMITTING ANOTHER CRIME, AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED ACTIONS ARE INDIVIDUALLY DISCUSSED. A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CRIMINAL SANCTIONS AGAINST THE TAKING OF HOSTAGES IN AUSTRIA, FRANCE, AND GERMANY FOCUSES ON THE CRIME PREVENTION ASPECTS OF THE LEGISLATION. AN HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF HOSTAGE TAKING REVEALS LITTLE SIMILARITY BETWEEN MODERN-DAY SITUATIONS AND HOSTAGE EPISODES IN THE PAST, PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO THE SEIZING OF INNOCENT THIRD PARTIES AS HOSTAGES. --IN FRENCH...ELW