US TV Show "To Catch A Predator"?

Has anyone watched this? (It's all over YouTube). What do you make of the entrapment..do the producers go too far? Some of the "predators" are horribly sleazy, but some of the 20 year old guys just seem clueless. Is it right that they film this stuff for our "entertainment"?

Obviously it's far better to catch someone BEFORE they break the law...but as they have not physically committed an act yet, is this really a "thought" crime, and if so, can it be enforced?

Its all very confusing. Would like to hear your thoughts.

Wow, thanks for your answers guys. What troubles me is when you see what the decoy has written and said to the perps. I do think that crosses the line in order to encourage a response. Trust me, I am certainly not standing up for the "predators", but I DO query the methods used in order to, well, secure ratings?

I have actually seen this on MSNBC on cable. I admit, I find it entertaining. I think an intent line has to be drawn though. Those that further contribute to the delinquency of minors by bringing alcohol or drugs should get a far worse sentence. Those that just get caught by bringing themselves should not necessarily be considered "predators." A lot of lonely men out there who let their penis think before their brain. If they are caught again, however, than they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. If the first catch didn't trigger a reality check, than nothing will. If you think about it, just being caught and aired on TV or the internet, without having jail time or a fine, would still have their lives ruined. Imagine applying/working at a big corporation where someone has probably watched the show. You would be recognized and reported, then fired. Really, you can't go anywhere without being labeled a "freak."

Are you crazy? First of all, nobody on that show is clueless. Everybody caught on that show knows exactly why they went to the house, and exactly the age of the girl. When did it become legal for a 20 year old to have sex with a 13 or 14 year old? Secondly they arent catching them before they break the law, they are catching them after they break the law. Soliciting sex from a minor is a crime, so just asking a minor for sex, even if there is no physical sexual act committed, is a crime. They all should rot in prison forever, so children are safe.

Most of the "predators" snagged on the show end up pleading guilty and it never really goes to trial. I personally do not find it entertaining. It bothers me that there may be a host of predators out there, but I also think that luring them in using deception is going a bit too far. They are charged for soliciting a minor who turns out to not be a minor at all, but police do such things all the time and it seems to pass constitutional muster.

This is a tricky one. I think it is better to err on the side of safety. These guys are truly sick. Many are beyond that and should be locked up forever. Some of the guys that are really young (around the 18 mark) should know better, but are they criminals? It would depend on the age of the girl. If she is 15 and up? It would be a case by case thing. If younger than 15, then yes absolutely! As far as entrapment? These guys are stupid enough to show up with intention (i.e., condoms, alcohol, toys, etc.)? They deserve what they get.

It is PURE entrapment and sensationalism

They are luring and enticing, preying on those people as they are accusing them of preying.

It is a thought crime of the worst kind. If somebody actually does batter a minor unconsensually then throw his a_ss in prison! Untill that happens dont put people away and ruin their lives for what going on in their heads

Yes I have! is no entrapment law enforcement do the same thing when the send undercover people to buy drugs. these people are out there praying on innocent kids and someone should put a stop them, the sad part of it is that some of them are in a position of power and at times hold the life of and even prosecute people for the same crimes they are guilty of it.

Im doing some work for UK TV at the moment and ive come to realise its a global phenomenon.....cheap titillation..... and the major TV stations are by far the worst....they want young kids to dance around and make d1cks of themselves on national TV.....and long may it continue while it keeps me in a job!

Now must rush Im off to interview the next candidate
http://content.pyzam.com/funnypics/peopl...

I don't see how this is entrapment. If you are having sexual conversations, and planning to meet underage people for sex, you deserve to be caught. Anyone that shows up naked to meet a youngster for sex, deserves everything they get.

believe me...child predators are not clueless.and solicitation of a minor is illegal. the TV shows like this are sleazy,but with rightous cause.

I think it's entertaining, and Chris Hanson is a cornball.

Put it this way. My 10 year old daughter was approached by some creep at a park during a school outing a couple months back. He tried to get her to leave with him. Luckily she knew exactly what to do, she ran off screaming for help. The police tracked the guy down several days later. Turned out not only did he have a prior arrest and conviction for child rape dating back to the early 1980s, also 2-3 years ago he was busted through a very similar program to that used on the show. He tried to meet up with what he thought was a little girl online. The little girl he was meeting turned out to be a cop.
So many of these guys on this show have prior arrests for child/sex related crimes. They have every full intention of getting with a young girl and they are willing to take the chance. Very rare do they find a guy with a squeaky clean record on the show. They even have had guys on that show who they have actually busted before-who come back again for more. They never learn.
Entrapment? Hell no, its smart law enforcement.

I think if people are going to participate in illegal activities then they deserve all scrutiny that comes along wiht it! I dont believe the 20 year old guys are clueless, I think they know what they are doing but they dont care.They are still breaking the law, and it is their job as a citizen to understand the laws of the country they are in. The fact that these guys made certain statements to these girls and were specifically asked to come with certain intentions they are solicitiong this minor involved. When they come with something such as condoms it is proof of intention. they have alot of guts they must be able to handle the heat.

I don't find it to be entrapment as the predators chose to have the inappropriate, risque online conversation with whom they thought was underage. To make matters worse, they wanted to physically engage in that inappropriate behavior as seen by them coming to the "child/teen's home" with items including condoms, alcohol and even rope and duct tape. There have been instances where the perp was caught by dateline/perverted justice and promised (to chris hansen -- he does such a great job, btw :) not to do that again and then 24 hours later, the sicko fell for the same ruse and got caught by dateline/perverted justice waiting for a youngster again, at the local mcdonalds. They have a sick impulse and jailing them and then tracking their whereabouts if or when released may at least allow them supervision and help protect society.

well, what CAN be enforced is enticing a minor over the internet. the men that they trap have already been caught saying suggestively sexual things to the 'children' online and remember: every single man knows the victim is only 12, 13 or whatever age they make up, so they deserve to be imprisoned. 20 year old men know it is illegal (not to mention sick) to have sex with a 12 year old girl, and they all know its illegal to ASK her to do sexual things with/to them. some of these men are really graphic, and had it been a real child, he or she would be scarred for life having a grown man speak to them the way they do. they put these men on television so the american people can see for themselves who the slimeballs are and recognize them on the streets. sexual offenders are allowed to move into any neighborhood they want, as long as theyre registered as a sex offender- but who checks that? many more people watch msnbc and see for themselves what the scumbags look like. i think its a great idea and they are catching pedophiles before they can hurt any more children. go chris hanson!