Dateline: To catch a predator

[Homoerectus]

Yes, Dateline has done a series of programs about this. You can go to Perverted-Justice.com and read the transcripts of PM exchanges. Pedophiles should be sent to jail without parole or pardon forever.

 

[country long hair]

Yes have seen several of these specials. If I'm not mistaken one guy commited suicide over being caught on tape.

 

[Israel321]

in fact in jail, not from personal experience, pedophiles are apparently, the lowest of the criminal hierarchy, they are killed more than any other sort of offender in jail

 

[Paathogen]

in fact in jail, not from personal experience, pedophiles are apparently, the lowest of the criminal hierarchy, they are killed more than any other sort of offender in jail

True.

Pedophiles are on the low-end of the "totem" pole, as far as inmates go. Former Police officers, former correctional officers, and rapists aren't much higher.

And if you're a corrupt "former" Correctional Officer or Cop- you're worse than a pedophile. We have to segregate our former law enforcement.

As far as Dateline's To Catch a Predator... please- don't get me started. The program should be discontinued.

 

[Paathogen]

why should it be discontinued? it shows what kind of sickos can live in our neighborhood! They go all over the country and do this..

I don't have a problem with the community being notified of Sex Offenders living in their neighborhoods. I work around Sex Offenders almost every day- I see first hand how ill some of these men (and women) truly are.

That said..
I think the program is disgusting.
Sex offenders, like it or not, have an illness. As a doctor that treats sex offenders, I cannot, in good conscious advocate a program that is detrimental to their treatment. Being embarrassed on national TV is part of that. While it might (keyword: might) make for good entertainment, it does nothing to aid them in helping them overcome their compulsions and mental illness.

Secondly, these men haven't even had their day in court yet. Many of them are either waiting for trial, or currently in one.

If MSNBC TRULY wanted to help, there are more beneficial ways to assist. MSNBC only seeks to profit off not only the misfortunes of REAL sex crime victims, but also profit from the publics fear and hatred of Sex offenders.

Whether they understand this or not, MSNBC is part of the problem.

Please understand- I am a doctor and I am looking at the situation as such. I am NOT a victim of sexual abuse, and if I were, perhaps I would think differently. Pedophilia is an illness and should be treated as such.

I work with sex offenders.
I treat sex offenders.
and I treat sex offender victims.
Therefore I have a unique (and informed) insight into the illness that most people do not. I'm also able to look beyond the "lynch mob" mentality and ignore the propaganda the media consistently spews regarding sex offenders.

Above all else- sex offenders are also human. People might not like to admit that- but they are. So are murderers, rapists, drug dealers, and everyone else the public regards as trash. ALL humans, regardless of their past, their crimes, or their future deserve to be treated as such- which means, if they are ill, it's my job (and passion) to ATTEMPT to help them overcome their illness... not exploit them for profit.

 

[LatinoSTAR]

i cant stand the show, its entrapment, and whats worse is they actually put it on tv for a profit, msnbc and chris hanson are sickos, pedophilia is a sickness and should be treated with the utmost care and respect, i dont really think they can help what theyre doing, they have the wrong mindset, but yeah i only watched one episode and tured it off because i was so disgusted

 

[aijalon18]

i feel like chris hanson is sicker than the actual pedophiles. why would he host this show. so creepy

also, you notice all the "girls" are said to be like 13 or 14. while i don't condone sex with underage girls at all. i think some of these men are not necessarily pedophiles. girls that are 13 and 14 can often be in high school. when i think of pedophile i think of someone victimizing little kids like 11 and under. they see little kids in a sexual way. we all know most girls in high school are already having sex and are very aware of sexuality

it's especially shitty when they have guys on there that are like 19 or 20 getting arrested and humiliated on tv.

also sometimes they have a change of heart and don't actually get out of the car or go in the house and they still get arrested.

legally i don't think it's right that merely having child pornography is a crime. it should only be a crime if you are in the pornography i think. it's like a thought crime like 1984

 

[Glafna]

The show, albeit a great watch, and a POSSIBLE good service to the community, is sad and pathetic. It's MSNBC abusing both the law, the viewers, and even the pedophiles themselves to make more money.

As Paathogen said, the show embarrasses the men on national TV, and it does nothing to help with their problem.

On a side note, the website gives the mens e-mail, home phone numbers, and any other contact info they can get their hands on. THEY HAVE NO RIGHT!!!!!!

 

[Paathogen]

As Paathogen said, the show embarrasses the men on national TV, and it does nothing to help with their problem.

On a side note, the website gives the mens e-mail, home phone numbers, and any other contact info they can get their hands on. THEY HAVE NO RIGHT!!!!!!

Can I ask you a question?
Referring to the above statement- Since you don't feel Dateline has a right to publish the men's email addresses, phone numbers and other contact info.... how do you feel about the State and National Sex Offender Registries?

In those, they not only list the offender's contact info, but also (in the majority of the cases) show the offender's picture and HOME address.

How do you feel about the registries?

I understand there is a slight difference between Dateline and the Registries. The registries list men (and women) who have been CONVICTED of sex crimes, whereas Dateline's inclusion of men does not.

I ws just curious about your position on this.
(Sorry for the slight OT).

 

[willsboy84]

maybe being humiliated on national tv will help some of these "poor, sick pedophiles" actually realize that they need help, and motivate them to GET it. i do think the producer's of this show are thinking more about controversy and ratings rather than actually taking some of these guys off the street. still, i'm not gonna sit here and defend some guy who goes out of his way to meet kids for sex. their shame and humiliation kinda pales in comparison of the lasting repercussions their victims sometimes face.....

 

[aijalon18]

I found out that gay men who are arrested and convicted for having sex in public places have to then register as sex offenders in their communities. THis has happened to several different men. These men have had sex with consenting adults not children.

Even though i love to see a Republican asshole go down in flames his arrest is another way that gays are treated unfairly. People shouldn't go to jail for hand signals. Straight guys do not get arrested for giving hand signals to prostitutes.

 

[Paathogen]

maybe being humiliated on national tv will help some of these "poor, sick pedophiles" actually realize that they need help, and motivate them to GET it. i do think the producer's of this show are thinking more about controversy and ratings rather than actually taking some of these guys off the street. still, i'm not gonna sit here and defend some guy who goes out of his way to meet kids for sex. their shame and humiliation kinda pales in comparison of the lasting repercussions their victims sometimes face.....

Is anyone here defending them? And no one here called them "poor" either.

But you're right about one thing- they are sick. Their illness is NOT an excuse for their actions, but it does offer an explanation. For the ones that can be treated (yes, I believe there are some that are not treatable), it's my job to do so.

Humiliating them... shaming them might pale in comparison to what they put their victims though- but let's get one thing straight- once we devalue someone, we can learn to devalue ANYONE. Once we start looking at Sex Offenders as nothing more than disgusting monsters, we become no better than the very people we condemn.

As a doctor, it's not my job to judge their crimes. I am there to treat them- not to judge them on what they did. That won't help them get better.

 

[willsboy84]

Is anyone here defending them? And no one here called them "poor" either.

But you're right about one thing- they are sick. Their illness is NOT an excuse for their actions, but it does offer an explanation. For the ones that can be treated (yes, I believe there are some that are not treatable), it's my job to do so.

Humiliating them... shaming them might pale in comparison to what they put their victims though- but let's get one thing straight- once we devalue someone, we can learn to devalue ANYONE. Once we start looking at Sex Offenders as nothing more than disgusting monsters, we become no better than the very people we condemn.

As a doctor, it's not my job to judge their crimes. I am there to treat them- not to judge them on what they did. That won't help them get better.

okay, maybe "defending" is the wrong word. just kinda bothers me that the problem people were having was this show seemed to just be the guys having their cases exploited on tv. i don't CONDONE the show by any means...just have a hard time feeling sympathetic for any of these guys. i get what you're saying about pedophilia being a disease, but alot of these guys not only fail to realize they have a problem, but also have the nerve to be OFFENDED at they're percieved. it's good that you have it in you to be able to seperate yourself from the situation..obviously i'm not really able to do the same.

 

[Ares]

I found out that gay men who are arrested and convicted for having sex in public places have to then register as sex offenders in their communities. THis has happened to several different men. These men have had sex with consenting adults not children.

I've heard of people that got convicted of a sex offense for public urination. I don't think some drunk guy walking home from the bar that randomly urinates on a tree or building should have to register as a sex offender. Yes, it's gross and shoud be against the law, but a sex crime? I don't know if I agree with that.

As for the To Catch a Predator people. They were obviously ready to have sex with these young girls. They deserve what's coming to them.

 

[Paathogen]

okay, maybe "defending" is the wrong word. just kinda bothers me that the problem people were having was this show seemed to just be the guys having their cases exploited on tv. i don't CONDONE the show by any means...just have a hard time feeling sympathetic for any of these guys. i get what you're saying about pedophilia being a disease, but alot of these guys not only fail to realize they have a problem, but also have the nerve to be OFFENDED at they're percieved. it's good that you have it in you to be able to seperate yourself from the situation..obviously i'm not really able to do the same.

I agree with you on many issues.
I also don't feel "sympathetic" towards these sex offenders.

I hope you don't misunderstand me- I treat these men, and I have compassion for these men because they're ill and need help. I would feel the same for any sick individual. I don't want to see any sick, or treated poorly, you know?

These men deserve to be in prison (assuming they're guilty). I just don't like the show because it exploits them and that hinders their treatment and rehabilitation process. Not to mention the fact that many of these guys haven't even gone to trial yet.

As far as separating the crime from the person- I have to. I work with not only sex offenders, but also murderers, rapists, drug dealers, child pornography distributors, thieves.... all the way down to people who write bad checks! If I didn't set aside my judgment and personal opinions of their crimes, I'd never be able to help them.


Trust me- the crimes that some of the men commit absolutely disgust me. I just have the ability to completely set that aside and concentrate on why I'm there- to help them and to treat them.

I hope you didn't take my statements (this post and my others) as a personal attack. I respect your opinion, and I thank-you for expressing it maturely.

 

[willsboy84]

I agree with you on many issues.
I also don't feel "sympathetic" towards these sex offenders.

I hope you don't misunderstand me- I treat these men, and I have compassion for these men because they're ill and need help. I would feel the same for any sick individual. I don't want to see any sick, or treated poorly, you know?

These men deserve to be in prison (assuming they're guilty). I just don't like the show because it exploits them and that hinders their treatment and rehabilitation process. Not to mention the fact that many of these guys haven't even gone to trial yet.

As far as separating the crime from the person- I have to. I work with not only sex offenders, but also murderers, rapists, drug dealers, child pornography distributors, thieves.... all the way down to people who write bad checks! If I didn't set aside my judgment and personal opinions of their crimes, I'd never be able to help them.


Trust me- the crimes that some of the men commit absolutely disgusts me. I just have the ability to completely set that aside and concentrate on why I'm there- to help them and to treat them.

I hope you didn't take my statements (this post and my others) as a personal attack. I respect your opinion, and i thank-you for expressing it maturely.

didn't take anything u said as an attack. and i do agree about the show in general. it's fairly obvious that they're more concerned with what will make for an "entertaining" show, rather than actually getting the guys they've featured off the streets.

 

[Glafna]

Can I ask you a question?
Referring to the above statement- Since you don't feel Dateline has a right to publish the men's email addresses, phone numbers and other contact info.... how do you feel about the State and National Sex Offender Registries?

In those, they not only list the offender's contact info, but also (in the majority of the cases) show the offender's picture and HOME address.

How do you feel about the registries?

I understand there is a slight difference between Dateline and the Registries. The registries list men (and women) who have been CONVICTED of sex crimes, whereas Dateline's inclusion of men does not.

I ws just curious about your position on this.
(Sorry for the slight OT).

Very good question. I think that the registries should exist, but not within public viewing. Law enforcement should know that the men and women are within their jurisdiction, but when the people in the neighborhood find out, they work to get the person out of their neighborhood, even though they may be completely rehabilitated. And there should also be a steep penalty for any law enforcement personal who disclose the information. And I forgot to mention, on the site they also use the persons photo if available.

 

[Paathogen]

Another issue I have with the show is Perverted Justice.

In case you don't know who they are, they are the organization that actually has these "chats" with the suspected sex offender. PJ (Perverted Justice for short) sets up the profile of the young boys/girls, they have the chat with suspected offender, and they hand over those chat logs to both MSNBC and whatever law enforcement agency they are working with for that episode.

I have a problem with PJ due to the conflict of interest. MSNBC pays PJ over $100,000 per episode This creates a problem. It encourages PJ to use unlawful tactics in order to "secure" a suspected offender.

After all, if PJ fails to secure interesting offenders, rating decline in the show, and it ultimately gets canceled. And if the show gets canceled, obviously MSNBC would no longer pay PJ.

See the problem?

That's a glaring problem right there... but there's another issue I have a problem with-
PJ has NO law enforcement training. Who's to say they're not using unlawful tactics (entrapment comes to mind) to secure their suspects?

 

[KennyD]

Sorry; BUT when an ADULT goes online looking for a Minor , be it a male or a female to have a Sexual Encounter with ..the Law is being broken ...
There is NO entrapment as everything is usually set up and in co operation with the State Attorney General and Local Law Enforcement ....
How would you feel if one of these scumbags tried to get into the pants of your little brother opr sister aboout age fifteen or so ?
I bet then you'd be trying to call Chris Hanson and MSNBC ....

 

[fabuloussqueal]

that show makes me giggle everytime its on..."i wasnt gonna do anything, just talk, thats all."