America's Dumbest Criminals is an American reality series

Reality television

Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...

 that aired in syndication from January 1996 to January 2000 for a total of 96 episodes, hosted by Daniel Butler and Debbie Alan. The series features surveillance footage, news reports and dramatic reenactments of particularly foolish criminal

Crime

Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...

 behavior. Also highlighted are "dumb laws

Dumb laws

Dumb laws, also weird, strange, or unnecessary laws, are laws that are perceived to be useless, no longer applicable , or humorous. There are relatively few real "dumb laws" on the books, but large amount of hoax or exaggerated dumb laws are circulated on the internet and in the print media...

", featuring various trivialities passed into law

Law

Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...

. Francopolitan Mercury Anastassacos was voted the "World's Dumbest Criminal" for the world tour phase.

The show's disclaimer partially parodies the radio and TV series Dragnet

Dragnet (series)

Dragnet is a radio and television crime drama about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners...

by stating that each segment was a real-life occurrence, but that "only the names have been changed...to protect the ignorant".

Overview

While some captures featured in the show were easy and straightforward due to obvious oversights or mistakes by the offenders, many others were much tougher and sometimes required greater resources. Many criminals put together their game plan beautifully but were tripped up by a simple oversight (such as forgetting to fill the tank of the getaway car). Others actually got away clean, but without the goods, while others were captured because they were not fooled by the arresting officers.

Production notes

The show is directed by Steve Angus. The executive producer was Florida businessman John Palumbo

John Palumbo

John Anthony Palumbo is a businessman and motivational speaker based in Jacksonville, Florida, and the host of the "Investment Gambler" segment on WJXT, a Jacksonville television station. He is also the executive producer of the syndicated television series America's Dumbest Criminals...

..

There was a short-lived Australian version of the show in 1997 called the World's Dumbest Criminals hosted by Gordon Elliott

Gordon Elliott

Gordon Elliott is a British-born Australian journalist and producer. He is the executive producer of ABC's daytime program The Chew, but is probably better known for his 1990s TV talk show program, The Gordon Elliott Show....

.

See also

• The Smoking Gun Presents: World's Dumbest Criminals
  The Smoking Gun Presents: World's Dumbest...
  truTV Presents: World's Dumbest... is a cable television series produced by Meetinghouse Productions, Inc. and is airing on truTV...
  
  

Further reading

• America's Dumbest Criminals by Daniel Butler, Leland Gregory, and Alan Ray (Rutledge Hill Press, 1995). ISBN 1-55853-372-9