NBC’s TV program “To catch a preditor” starring Chris Hanson is with out a doubt a popular show. Since my TiVO suggestions know I like crime shows it often appears in my listed of recorded programs. It’s the kind of show where it’s hard not to watch because lets face it - we love to watch dysfunction on television to escape the dysfunction of our own lives. Call it the Jerry Springer effect.

I know from taking classes in criminal law that it is indeed legal for police officers to use deception while in the course of a criminal investigation. It is not legal however for police officers to use deception to lead a discussion to create the illusion of a criminal act which did not exist. So for example a chat room discussion that started out “Man some of these 14 year olds now days are looking hot. I’d be tempted to have a little fun. How about you?” is entrapment.

I believe what Dateline NBC and their consultants “Perverted Justice” are doing is in the grey area between entrapment and deception. But, the larger point is that this organization called “Perverted Justice” who are involved in these chat room discussions are not police officers or private investigators or any type of law enforcement.

Every scene ends with the suspected pervert tackled by law enforcement and arrested. According to Dateline NBC they are charged usually with something like “attempted lewd act with a minor” and typically they say they plead no contest. Probably because the ones who plead not guilty are likely to have the charges dismissed.

I’ve also noticed many of the suspects that show up - typically appear to suffer from mental handicaps, and to be blunt without the intention of being cruel - they are probably going to go to any house where they have been promised sexual activity might happen - no matter what the age the person claims to be.

Both NBC and Perverted Justice claim to be doing a service, to help protect children from sexual predators. An admirable goal indeed. However, what they are really doing amounts to nothing better than pure money making trash television and I don’t believe it’s having any significant impact on sexual crimes.

Law enforcement agencies who work with NBC and Perverted Justice should know that this participation makes them look very unprofessional. Vice investigations of this nature should not include the participation of television producers and civilians.

Ultimately parents need to take responsibility for their children and monitor their Internet activities, and additionally anyone they communicate with or have contact with. The greater danger does not come from conversation with complete strangers on the Internet, it comes from people who know and have contact with your children.

For more information on how to protect your children visit http://www.pointsmartclicksafe.org/

APA Citation:
Smith, Nathan. M. (2006). Perverted Justice and Dateline’s To Catch a Preditor.
Retrieved September 8, 2008, from http://www.computer-forensic-technician.com/wordpress/perverted-justice-and-datelines-to-catch-a-preditor/.