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A Pilot Study of Criminal Captive-takers’ Modus Operandi

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Abstract

Captive-taking is an extensive international and domestic problem that faces law enforcement, as well as the military and intelligence communities. To date, a modicum of research has been done to understand these offenders and the methods they employ in the commission of their crimes. Understanding the tactics, techniques, and procedures that perpetrators use to execute a captive-taking event will better prepare law enforcement agencies and others to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from captive-taking incidents. The current research is drawn from a pilot study consisting of interviews of seven captive-takers. Consensual qualitative analysis was utilized to draw conclusions from the interview transcripts about the modus operandi of these perpetrators. Sixty-one domains of M.O. were yielded, grouped into 35 core ideas, and cross analyzed with weighted labels identifying the frequency each particular domain/core idea arose. The results presented are unique because they are derived directly from the perspective of the captive-takers themselves and the data were gathered using a systematic methodological approach (Perpetrator-Motive Research Design). Limitations, strengths and future research directions are also discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling & Counseling Psychology, West Virginia University, 502-B Allen Hall, Morgantown, WV, 26506-6122, USA

    Jeffrey A. Daniels, Karianne D. P. Bilsky, Jessica Leonard, Erin Grinnan, Meagan Brunson, Jonathan Page, William Little, Jenni Haist, Susan Chamberlain & Brenna Ramirez

  2. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Behavioral Research & Instruction Unit, Critical Incident Response Group, Washington, DC, USA

    Amy J. Angleman & Gregory M. Vecchi

Authors
  1. Jeffrey A. Daniels
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  2. Amy J. Angleman
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  3. Gregory M. Vecchi
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  4. Karianne D. P. Bilsky
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  5. Jessica Leonard
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  6. Erin Grinnan
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  7. Meagan Brunson
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  8. Jonathan Page
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  9. William Little
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  10. Jenni Haist
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  11. Susan Chamberlain
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  12. Brenna Ramirez
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Correspondence to Jeffrey A. Daniels.

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Daniels, J.A., Angleman, A.J., Vecchi, G.M. et al. A Pilot Study of Criminal Captive-takers’ Modus Operandi . J Police Crim Psych 31, 37–47 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-015-9167-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-015-9167-4

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