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This study examines whether there is a consistent pattern in terrorist hostage-taking and kidnapping. Script theory, developed in the discipline of cognitive psychology, explains that human behavior, whether brutal or benevolent, typically has a certain pattern to it because every human is programmed to some extent by learned experience; this experience, or script, can determine how an individual [hostage-taker/kidnapper] will respond to a particular stimulus or event [hostage-taking/kidnapping]. This study hypothesizes that script theory can be applied to cases of terrorist hostage-taking and kidnapping to determine the fate of a hostage-either to execute or to release. This study uses 764 cases of terrorist hostage-taking and kidnapping data originally collected by the Institute for the Study of Violent Groups (ISVG). Two hundred thirty four cases were finally selected for the analysis. Logistic regression method was used for the analysis.

This paper is a historical survey of the mounted police tradition. The earliest historical references to mounted police can be traced to King Charles’ Articles of War, published in 1629. The British model of mounted policing was introduced to its colonies during the heyday of the British Empire in the nineteenth century. During this era mounted forces were utilized in Africa, the Middle East, India, Canada, and the Pacific colonies, where the tradition flourished until the age of the automobile. In addition to the British model, a ranging tradition of policing developed in Texas with the Texas Rangers. It was most influential on its neighbours in Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. An early example of specialized policing, mounted forces have seen a revival in recent years, albeit in an urban setting rather than a colonial or frontier environment.

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