Where Is "To Catch A Predator"
“The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.” – Sophocles
Remember this Dateline NBC series with Chris Hansen? Adults posing as children would create online profiles and then, allegedly, wait for predators to solicit them. Apparently chatting online with a minor about sexually explicit subjects and/or sharing sexually explicit pictures is a crime in itself. Once that line had been crossed, the decoys would tell the predator that they were home alone and arrange for them to come over. When they arrived, Chris Hansen would greet them, armed with transcripts of their online conversations and interview them if they agreed. Once they left the house, police were waiting to arrest them.
I loved this show and Chris Hansen. I went looking around the internet to find out why it hasn’t been on in such a long time. I had heard something about a lawsuit but didn’t know any of the details.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nI9zUkRMw4]
According to Wikipedia and The Huffington Post, a district attorney in Texas was chatting with one of the decoys. Apparently, he did engage in sexually explicit conversations and photo exchanges with the decoy but would not agree to a meeting in person. A SWAT team was sent to his home to arrest him and he committed suicide as they barged in the door. His sister sued NBC and the case was settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. The show has not aired since the Kentucky episode in December 2007.
MSNBC does still have To Catch A Predator site. Chris Hansen hasn’t blogged about the show since December 2007. I can’t find anything definitive from NBC about the future of the show.
Also according to Wikipedia, there was quite a bit of controversy about the show, even before the suicide in Texas. There have been allegations of entrapment, conflicts of interest, the show crossing the line between journalism and law enforcement and even accusations of Chris Hansen impersonating a police officer.
I’m no legal expert, law enforcement official or news journalist. I’m not qualified to determine if the show crossed any legal lines. All I know is that I liked the show. I liked that they caught perverts who were out to harm children. I liked Chris Hansen’s dry delivery when reading their nauseating online chat transcripts back to them. I wanted to be one of the online decoys to help catch these animals.
I have very little, if any, sympathy for any of the men that showed up at the house or for any of them that chat online with kids. This is going to sound harsh, but if the DA in Texas who killed himself actually was a sexual predator, then his suicide means only that we have one less of them in this world and good riddance.
I have always felt sorry for the families of these men. Imagine seeing your brother, father, son or husband caught in the act on national television. It would be humiliating, painful and shocking, to say the least. I have always also felt sorry for any children who have been harmed by any adult in any way.
The bottom line is that these men made bad decisions for which there were consequences. If the show saved even one child from being harmed then I believe it was worthwhile, hope they can work out the problems and bring it back.
Thanks for stopping by!
I agree wholeheartedly!
When it comes to crimes against children these people should not have rights. I don’t care if it is entrapment. They are slime bags with nothing but bad intentions.
The man committed suicide because he obvisouly knew he did something wrong.
This is a subject I am very passionate about and have to watch my mouth in public forum such as this.
Oh, I totally agree.
It is their choice to sign the disclosure to appear on TV. There are many that didn’t, or many that asked their face be blurred.
I honestly don’t think it’s entrapment (which has personally affected my life in a HUGE altering way, so I have strong feelings about it). Entrapment is the officer putting the alleged in a situation they otherwise would not have put themselves into – in order to get them into trouble. These people got on their own computers and engaged in these discussions. They also are twisted enough to already have naked pictures of themselves, and OK the meetings. Police are not present during any of this.
What about the especially sick ones, that come in naked, or bring whipped cream? That is pre-meditated. Nobody stripped them down, or forced them to go buy foreplay treats. They knew what they were doing, and they’re just sorry to be caught. The show has even featured repeat offenders that didn’t learn their lesson the first time.
I also have to agree about the suicide. He would have just explained himself and fixed the problem if it weren’t true – but he knew he was a predator and couldn’t face the repurcussion. And, frankly, I can’t blame him. A sex predator in jail is a big enough target – but a former DA sex predator? He’d have been eaten alive.
Great post, I’ll come back for my comment here about this one later.
But why I write at the moment has more to do with Mr ‘R’ evading questions and saying he’ll call later and not. Two times is a pattern … or is it?
I already decided it was one time too many but really want some clarity today.
sagepublishing@mac.com
This show made a BIG difference. I recently bought a book he authored about Internet Safety. Stunning this phenomena occurs. Men out of their minds caught on tape. We have so much more to teach our children than our mothers even considered in their life times. OMG
“I will not be censored on my own blog.”
That’s the spirit! So many authors tend to avoid topics due to negative responses; write it as you see fit!
It always makes me sick when some a$$hole wins a lawsuit that should never have been brought to court. No one made this man (a freakin’ DA yet–who no doubt prosecuted others for much less) indulge in his perverted fantasies. They also didn’t make him choose death over prison. The only ones entitled to any restitution are any innocent child victims which he may have left behind.
PS–Don’t steer away from controversy. You have a very balanced view of life. And I’m planning on writing more controversial posts myself once I get my freedom back and I hope that doesn’t mean you’ll stop visiting. You can even make snarky comments if you want!
if you enjoyed that, you’ll get fired up about this:
http://a.abcnews.com/WhatWouldYouDo/Story?id=6613617&page=1
as a survivor of being drugged and raped, this makes me extra sick.
Interesting post that caught my attention when looking into this unfortunate incident. Though you’ve self perpetuated the idea that you said something bold, instead you’ve proven yourself a provincial sensationalist. First, celebrating the suicide of anyone with mental disturbances such as pedophilia and depression is despicable (next time censor yourself). Second, the fact that you merely ‘like’ the show doesn’t make it ethically ok. Third, no one in their right mind doesn’t believe twisted predators shouldn’t be caught, but should it be made into a public spectacle for your enjoyment? Lastly, one ought consider the challenge of pedophilia more coherently. Pedophiles are predisposed to having such inclinations, they HAVE to receive physchological evaluation. (suicide should not be encouraged nor should public humiliation be sought). The most depressing issue of this post and the previous comments is the fact that you missed an obvious logical point. Why not boost our efforts in cyber policing and drop the circus? I know I’m commenting rather late but I hope you reconsider your remarks.
All the best
Wow, Bob. How can anyone defend the acts of a pedophile–unless they “understand” their sick inclinations. They may be predisposed to these feelings, but they know they are doing something very wrong. Which is why they work so hard to cover their tracks and intimidate their little victims. I haven’t seen the show, but I say anything that makes these sickos think twice about harming a child, go for it. For that reason, I enjoy watching America’s Most Wanted. It’s taken a lot of creeps off our streets.
Sorry, Cyndi. I just had to add my two cents.
It’s funny you say that because I was hesitant to write this post, knowing that it might be controversial. Then I remembered my rule…I will not be censored on my own blog.
Oh boy. I still can’t believe that supposedly adult men are still playing these dating games. IMHO, let it go. If he calls again, he calls again. If not, at least you learned early on that he wasn’t for you.
Trying to analyze why he is behaving this way is a waste of your precious time. Going over and over your interactions to see if you can come up with something you said or did, “wrong” is too. You have been yourself, there is never anything wrong with that.
Evading questions, to me, is a HUGE red flag, much worse than the not calling thing. It’s a form of dishonesty. I would argue it’s even more manipulative than blatant lying. Manipulation and dishonesty this early on in a relationship can’t lead to anything good. Again…just my opinion.
Don’t worry, I’m not steering away from controversy, but it did cross my mind. I came to my senses and wrote exactly what I wanted to write. Yay! I love snark, can’t wait until tax season is over.
Unreal. I’m sorry that this has happened to you.
I don’t censor myself on my own blog. It’s rule #1. I also don’t take orders from random strangers who, for some unknown reason feel comfortable telling me what I should or shouldn’t say.
I wasn’t arguing that the show is ethical, just that I enjoy seeing folks who prey on children get caught. I frankly don’t care if they are publicly humiliated. As I said in my post, I hope they work out the legal and ethical issues and put the show back on. I care more about the kids that are being saved than the whack-jobs that get busted on the show.
As I’m sure you are aware, the rehabilitation of pedophiles is rare, even with the best psychological counseling.
I agree that boosting efforts in cyber policing in order to catch child predators is a great idea. However, this post was about the tv show, not about how better to police sexual predators.
I have never encouraged suicide but do not feel any sympathy for these predators, including the one that did take his own life.
I will not reconsider my remarks but respect your right to disagree.
No need to apologize, your two cents are always welcome! Thank you.