united-states criminal-law
Is the DA bound by agreements made during hostage negotiations?
<p>I've seen several fictional situations where a District Attorney agrees to not prosecute various crimes committed by a kidnapper while conducting hostage negotiations.</p>
<p>Would an agreement made by a DA in furtherance of obtaining the safe release of hostages be enforceable?</p>

<p><strong>No, this is duress.</strong></p>
<p>In 1988, James Harvey took 60 people hostage at the West End Christian School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The incident ended when Governor Guy Hunt offered him a video pardoning him.</p>
<p>The video was made under duress, and they never had any intention of honoring it.</p>
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_End_Christian_School_hostage_crisis" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_End_Christian_School_hostage_crisis</a></p>
<p>As far as I can tell, Mr. Harvey is <a href="https://wvua23.com/tuscaloosa-hostages-30-years-later-forgiven-but-not-forgotten/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">still in prison</a> for this incident.</p>
