To Catch a Predator / Perverted Justice: NOT WANTED

***UPDATE: This Texas city has since fired the police chief who orchestrated the sting.***

ABC 20/20: 'To Catch a Predator': A Sting Gone Bad
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/09/to-catch-a-pred.html

Esquire article on To Catch a Predator: "Tonight on Dateline This Man Will Die"
http://www.esquire.com/features/predator0907

Rolling Stone article on Perverted Justice:
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/15723886/to_catch_a_predator_is_nbcs_p...

Forty-six major police departments nationwide have Internet task forces to catch predators and other Internet criminals. Federal funding is made available for Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces, which properly investigate online crimes.

Dateline NBC's To Catch a Predator may make for entertaining TV to some. However, it sacrifices law enforcement practices and proper legal investigations for money, notoriety and ratings. Prosecutors have questioned the legality and accused Perverted Justice of fabricating chat log evidence.

"The national policy of Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is not to work with any private agency on an investigation," said Ches Williams, Dallas Police Department.

While legitimate law enforcement groups are open to tips, the predominant rule is that they will do the investigations themselves. Groups like Perverted Justice and tabloid, ratings-desperate television shows like Dateline NBC are not wanted.

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