Dateline NBC: To Catch a Predator (2004 – ) is a series of hidden came investigations by the television newsmagazine Dateline NBC devoted to the subject of identifying and detaining potential child sexual abusers who attempt to contact children over the internet. The stories, which have all been done by Dateline NBC correspondent Chris Hansen, are conducted as an undercover sting operation with the help of online watchdog group Perverted Justice. Since the third installment, law enforcement officials have also been involved in the operation, leading to many arrests.

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About the series

• Media has done a tremendous service to our nation by bringing awareness to the issue. Proactive online investigations are effective in identifying and ultimately catching child sexual predators, when conducted by proper law enforcement authorities
  • John Shehan, the Cyber Tipline program manager at the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children
  • Gallego, Daniella (2006). "'Gotcha' Shows Aimed at Nabbing Sexual Predators Raise Controversy" FoxNews.com (Accessed August 14, 2006)

• The issues "To Catch A Predator" raises are tied to larger journalistic questions too important to be ignored. It should be left to the law to decide how the men exposed on the program should be dealt with. But it is up to media to police its own behavior, even when the topic is distasteful and satisfying answers are not easy to come by.
  • Brian Monotopoli from PublicEye
  • Montopoli, Brian (2006). "Does 'Dateline' Go Too Far 'To Catch A Predator?'" CBSNews.com (accessded August 14, 2006)

• Our next guest is host of the funniest comedy on television. It's called To Catch a Predator. If you've never seen it, it's like Punk'd for pedophiles. It's a great show and you can watch it this Wednesday night on NBC. Please say hello to Chris Hansen.
  • Jimmy Kimmel introducing Chris Hansen to his audience on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Chris Hansen

• I'm Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC and we are doing a story about computer predators/adults who try to meet teens online for sex.
• (enters room) Have a seat over there.
• You are free to go.
• You can leave right now.
• No hug for me?
• What was your plan here today?
• (after a predator asks for hug from decoy) No hug, tonight.
• What are you doing?
• What is going on in your mind?
• You're naked, there's a 14 year old girl, you're chasing a cat around and you've got Cool Whip and you want this girl to do some sex act with the cat and then you'll have sex with her. Is that accurate?
• (predator denies wanting to have sex with decoy) That's not what it says here.
• I guess all that running around naked got you dried out there.
• (referring to marijuana bud that predator left on counter) I want you to take that with you though, since it's an illegal substance.
• Did you bring your collar with you? What is all this slave talk in here?
• Three hours? You must have been hoping for something pretty special to drive that far on a Saturday afternoon.
• (to a predator who had brought a duffel bag with him to the decoy house) Looks like you brought enough stuff to move in.
• (predator asks if he is going to be arrested) That's not up to me.
• (predator: "I don't want to be on the news, dawg.") It's a little late for that, dawg.
• But Rick, I think it's time for you to go.
• It sounds like what you were fishing for is sex with a 12 year old girl.
• (catching a predator for a second time) I have been in television for 24 years and I have very seldom been at a loss for words. I don't even know what to ask you first.
• You talk about taking her out and buying her some boots. What's up with that?
• What's going on in here does seem pretty pervy, doesn't it?
• So what part of the bible tells you to say all this kind of stuff here in the chat: "I love to suck [beep]. Play with nipples and lick [beep]." Where is that in the bible? Explain that to me. Is that the Old Testament or the New Testament?
• So does this new church teach that it's okay to come over and visit 14 year old girls who are home alone?
• (predator talks about how he can't find women to date his own age) So you figured you'd try another category, the twelve year old category.
• (pulls out a naked picture of predator that the predator had sent to the decoy during the chat) Is that appropriate to send to a girl who says she's 14? Lounging around naked?
• Now, you see why that's so hard to believe. I have the chat log right here.
• (after predator takes a cookie on the counter) How's the cookie?
• (at the end the interview with predator) You're free to walk out that door.
• (when predator tries to flee) Excuse me, I'd like to ask you some questions.
• (after a lame excuse for visit) So, you were just in the neighborhood and decided to walk into a house.
• (after predator says the decoy instigated the chat) So because a 14 year old girl told you to come makes it okay.
• (repeating what is written in the chat) You say here, "Do you like it doggy style. I could blank you all over"
• You said "Do you want a boyfriend or a dad?" That's a little creepy, I gotta tell ya.
• (Predator Raw) David Schumacher was trouble with a capital T.