Perverted Justice: Sex Stings Stir Up Controversy
Wed Dec 13, 2006 6:30PM EST
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Today the New York Times ran a front page story about Perverted Justice, an organization that came into the limelight when it began allowing Dateline NBC to film its sting operations. Perverted Justice, the article states, trains its volunteers to go online and ferret out pedophiles and sex offenders, often by posing as minors. They do this by engaging their victims in lewd chat and IM sessions and, ultimately, agreeing to meet them in person. Meanwhile, they're gathering transcripts of the conversations and readying evidence for arrest. By allowing Dateline NBC to film these "stings" (often with police present to make arrests), Perverted Justice has brought high ratings to Dateline and criticism from those who question whether this sort of Internet vigilantism is a form of entrapment.
Anyone I've talked to who's seen the Dateline TV segments or visited the sites says, "I don't understand why anyone would answer someone's sexual overtures in an Internet chat room." But if you believe that sex offenders have a disease or an addiction, not unlike drug use or alcoholism, you can understand the pattern.
The Internet pumps all of our weaknesses into our homes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whether it's drugs, gambling, infidelity, or sex with minors, it's all there—a few clicks away. I've watched Perverted Justice do what it does for a couple of years now. I believe the organization is good at what it does, which is luring adults into conversations with people they believe are minors and then waiting for those adults to solicit people they think are minors.
But for me, visiting the Perverted Justice web site always conjures up the image of the snake in the Garden of Eden. The organization's method for ferreting out sex criminals is to taunt and tease people struggling with their problems, promising them the thing they want most in the world, a sexual encounter with a minor.
Who's at fault? The snake, for offering the apple or the person who succumbs to temptation and takes a bite?
What do you think? By going into chat rooms, posing as minors, and participating in encounters with would-be child molesters, is Perverted Justice part of the solution or part of the problem?
Comments on Perverted Justice: Sex Stings Stir Up Controversy
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2 Posted by wholemancircle on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:45PM EDT Report Abuse
A few years ago, when the world was beginning to realize what a cesspool the internet was becoming, and that a child couldn't search subjects like dolls and toys without finding obscene content, no one wanted to take the responsibility for fighting against this evidence of criminal activity. There are laws against this same content on television, radio, telephone and the street corner. Why did years pass before concerted efforts were made to investigate and imprison those who create it on the internet? The Perverted Justice organization is doing what 10,000 police agencies, the FBI, the FCC, the manufacturers of hardware and software, and internet providers all said couldn't be done. They are discouraging people who might otherwise be tempted to become pedophiles. Millions see these programs and recognize how seductive internet porn is to Joe Average. Also, they become vigilant about protecting their thoughtlives and computers from contamination. Pornographers sell sex as a drug that destroys the user and those around him. There are studies that sex hits the brain like intervenous cocaine use. Pornography is evidence of criminal behavior in this sense. I hope the law will one day reflect the fact that child abuse begins with one wicked thought entertained and nurtured.
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3 Posted by jclarson53 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:30PM EDT Report Abuse
Perverted-Justice volunteers have no formal training whatsoever. They also are not bound by the same rules as police officers are. They operate under a cloud of anonymity.If someone stung by this group felt they were falsely accused, against whom would they file a complaint? Beef the Troll? Almond Joy? PJ has claimed in the past they are not an organization. Xavier von Erck claims PJers are independent agents. Who is accountable for PJ's actions?Whom would you sue? PJ teaming up with Dateline is despicable. Creating news for entertainment.believe this is a major slap in the face to real LE who often get no recognition for their efforts in fighting crime, much less are earning 70k an episode for luring criminals to TV cameras in hopes of getting their 15 nminutes of fame. Perverted-Justice has tried to legitimitize now that they are under greater public scrutinty. But must we forget the three years of harassment and terrorism they leveled on the men they busted prior to the last year? Over 1100 men were busted by PJ without any LE involvement whatsoever.So are there now 1100 possible pedophiles on the lose because PJ messed up and now we are supposed to just forget about them? Leave catching criminals to people who have been trained and authorized to do so and leave playing online fantasy games to consenting adults. And if Dateline wants to film those adults, more power to them, as long as they don't call it news, cause that is one of the oldest criminal activities known to man!
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4 Posted by rhinaq on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:38PM EDT Report Abuse
Any adult who thinks or has sex with a minor is a sick human being and should not be allowed to continue this horrendous act. Thumbs up Perverted Justice keep up the good work.
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5 Posted by km4l2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:52PM EDT Report Abuse
Perverted-Justice has lots of skeletons in their closets, and people who have watched this group for 4 years have a hard time forgetting who this group is and how they began. Working with LE is good, something www.corrupted-justice.com has fought for over the last three years. But some of the convictions PJ claims are suspect and at least two are under appeal. PJer have perjured themselves on the witness stand, and DA's are slowly learning this group is not crediblw. If it weren't for Dareline, PJ would still be up to it's old post the bust and harass him tactics. Many innocent men have suffered because of PJ. I'm all for taking down the bad guys, but I'm all for LE doing so, not vigilantes. What about the 100 men PJ let go before there was Dateline and legitmacy? PJ called them pervs before so what are they now? Pervs on the losse ready to strike again? Thanks a lot PJ.
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6 Posted by terrysbaby53@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:01PM EDT Report Abuse
MANY A INOCENT MAN IS BEHIND BARS FOR TAKING THE BAIT. IT'S OK COMPUTER TALKERS ARE IN FEDERAL PRISONS AND THE REAL PREDDITORS ARE ON THE STREETS. THIS JUST DOES NOT MAKE SENCE TO ME. AND DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY YOUNG GIRLS ARE ON THE WEB PLAYING THESE CAT AND MOUSE GAMES THAT ARE GETTING PEOPLE ARRESTED.
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7 Posted by willenem on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:46PM EDT Report Abuse
I personally think NBC's Dateline segments were the epitomy of "legal entrapment". I am getting so weary of shows about "internet cyber crimes" and hopefully the public before long will "jump on a worhwhile" project such as our homeless, foster children, and children in the US who need serious operations instead of bringing in children from other countries to do "miracle surgery on" -- What's wrong with our kids here in the US who are so in need of medical attention, operations and special care -- We need to re-evaluate our priorities -- What children and look at on the internet should be their owhn business and the media should could start reporting the news insteac of trying to play "hero" and doing special programs trying to be "heros" in criminal matters. For the record, I get unsolcited "porn" all the time and delete immediately. There are so many ways to "hack" into a computer so that people will get this kind of thing is unreal. Based on my research, I find that "girls" are really into "hooking up with guys" on the internet so if you arrest Kids today are so well informed using the internet and exploring websites they get into by lying about their age their participation in chat rooms, etc., is enough to make a sailor blush. All I know is that I'm sick to death with the "hype" media and being inolved in areas they need to leae to law enforcement.
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8 Posted by newcomkid02 on Tue May 26, 2009 4:57PM EDT Report Abuse
After reading some of the "chats" that were written to "young kids" ..I really could care less how these creeps are caught and brought to justice..I believe all of them are being treated fairly and if not so what...the proof is here....they are sick minded perverts...If they were not on the internet trying to seduce and rape kids .....nobody could "catch" them....Good work Perverted Justice!
1 Posted by cochswife on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:28PM EDT Report Abuse
Whether Perverted Justice is crossing the line, or not, I have some comfort believing the potential abuser of a child is being taken out of commission!