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51-584: Christopher Edward Hansen (born September 13, 1959) is an American television presenter , journalist , and YouTube personality. During his tenure as a correspondent for Dateline NBC , he hosted the program's segment To Catch a Predator (2004–2007), which revolved around catching potential Internet predators using a sting operation . Despite the segment's three-year run, its popularity has led Hansen to host similarly-formatted shows on other networks. After parting ways with NBC in 2013, he began hosting Killer Instinct on Investigation Discovery in 2015,

102-600: A Discovery+ show which examines Peter Nygard 's life from his birth to his downfall and arrest. Hansen returned to television in 2022 with the series Takedown with Chris Hansen on his streaming service TruBlu, which once more finds him investigating and interviewing online predators. The show granted him greater creative control, allowing him to use profanity and work further with local law enforcement entities. Hansen and his first wife Mary Joan were married in 1989, subsequently having two sons together. Mary Joan filed for divorce in 2018 after nearly thirty years of marriage and

153-586: A Shiawassee County Courtroom in Michigan in July 2021. Hansen did not show up for court. A warrant was issued for his arrest in July 2021. Hansen later turned himself in, stating that his failure to appear in court was because of a misunderstanding, and the matter was resolved. Hansen has received eight Emmy Awards , four Edward R. Murrow Awards , three Clarion awards, the Overseas Press Club award, an IRE award,

204-472: A brief cameo himself in episode 1 of the second season of Amazon series The Boys . On October 12, 2023, Hansen made a guest appearance with Logan Paul in the KSI vs Tommy Fury final press conference, to confront Dillon Danis about his recent "predatory" behaviour towards model Nina Adgal . Television presenter A television presenter (or television host , some become a " television personality ")

255-446: A community of the offender's status once a person has been arrested and convicted. To begin the follow-up process, the site's volunteers do a reverse-directory lookup to obtain their target's name, as well as checking on the Web for any other information they can find about them. They then post the target's name, address, and photograph if available, on the website, as well as the chat log:

306-501: A decade. Another example would be American stand-up comedian Joe Rogan , who is a commentator and post-fight interviewer in UFC . The term is commonly used in many countries including Canada, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Barbados, Sri Lanka , India, Spain, Denmark, Greece, Australia, Egypt, Andorra, Malta, San Marino, Japan and South Korea. In the US , such a person is typically called

357-501: A host, such as in the terminology talk show host , or an MC ( Master of ceremonies ). In the context of TV news programs, they are known as anchors . Perverted-Justice The activity of the Perverted-Justice organization included online volunteers carrying out sting operations by posing as minors (the age range portrayed by the decoys is usually 10–15) on chat sites and waiting for adults to approach them. After obtaining

408-416: A house by a self-proclaimed minor, who is actually a Perverted-Justice volunteer. When they arrive, they are greeted by a television news reporter . The first of these events were conducted in late 2003, in co-operation with investigative reporter John Mercure at Milwaukee's WTMJ-TV , whom the site credits with initially conceiving the concept. Similar events with other local news organizations took place in

459-796: A journalist when he was 14 years old, watching and following the police and FBI investigation of the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa . He attended Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan . Hansen graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in telecommunication in 1981. In 1981, Hansen became a reporter for NBC affiliate WILX in Lansing, Michigan during his senior year at Michigan State University. He later reported for WFLA in Tampa, Florida , various newspapers and radio stations in Michigan and WXYZ in Detroit. In 1988, he

510-652: A list of "corporate sexual offenders", which they define as "[a]ny company who is informed of pedophiles using their service to advocate the lifestyle of child/adult rape which then does not remove the pedophiles from their service", with corresponding lists of pedophiles who make use of the services. Perverted-Justice volunteers also worked to match up MySpace profiles with convicted sex offenders from state registries and alert MySpace officials to their presence. They say they have identified almost three thousand such profiles, most of which have been deleted. Perverted-Justice, as well as its volunteers, have been commended over

561-538: A phone verifier in 2004, Fencepost was dismissed from the site. "Xavier became much more oriented toward getting pedophiles arrested rather than just making them complete social pariahs in their neighborhood," says Fencepost. Von Erck said he got the idea for the website while watching people attempt to groom young girls in chat rooms in Oregon. He says Perverted-Justice is a computer watchdog agency that works closely with law enforcement agencies. "The media likes to use

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612-492: A programme about their field of expertise (for instance, David Attenborough ). Some are celebrities who have made their name in one area, then leverage their fame to get involved in other areas. Examples of this latter group include British comedian Michael Palin who now presents programmes about travel (such as Around the World in 80 Days ), and American actor Alan Alda , who presented Scientific American Frontiers for over

663-430: A record of the conversation they had with the volunteer. In a process called "Follow-up," additional volunteers on the site's forums, operating under rules and restrictions set up by Perverted-Justice administrators, will contact the target's family, friends, neighbors, and employer to alert them to the website posting. All telephone numbers are removed from the site's main pages after two months (though still available on

714-417: A result of their collaboration with Dateline NBC on a series of televised sting operations called To Catch a Predator . Perverted-Justice also operated a site that targets groups and individuals it identifies as being involved in the pedophile activism community, a site that provides information to abuse victims on their legal recourse, a site that gives advice to minors on dealing with grooming on

765-410: A salary of $ 120,000 (equivalent to about $ 181,000 in 2023). The site originally started with the posting of chat logs to shame people who engaged in sexual chats with purported children. Some members of the site allegedly went further by harassing the targets of their chats in real life, as well as their friends, neighbors, employers, and family. After a falling-out over a vitriolic chat log with

816-555: A short-lived series that documented homicide investigations. That same year, he replaced Matt Doran as the host of the syndicated series Crime Watch Daily , which he hosted for two seasons and had his own segment similar to his Dateline feature, Hansen vs. Predator . He co-founded the true crime -oriented streaming service TruBlu in 2020, where he produced and starred in the web series TakeDown with Chris Hansen . Hansen has earned several accolades, including eight Emmy Awards , four Edward R. Murrow Awards , three Clarion awards,

867-537: A show on Investigation Discovery chronicling homicide cases. The show's initial 10-episode season premiered on August 17, 2015. In 2015, Hansen planned a new independent television show called Hansen vs. Predator , a spin-off of his original show To Catch a Predator . The program was intended to premiere online, crowdfunded via Kickstarter with Hansen hoping to raise $ 400,000; however the Kickstarter only raised $ 89,000. Hansen offered promotional memorabilia as part of

918-634: A third season. The show ended its run in June 2018. Chris Hansen debuted the first episode of Hansen vs. Predator on September 12, 2016, on Crime Watch Daily . On October 9, 2019, Hansen started a YouTube channel under the name Have a Seat with Chris Hansen , featuring weekly podcasts tackling different topics and interviews with special guests. In 2019, this channel investigated claims of pedophilia and grooming against YouTube creator James Jackson, commonly known as Onision . In January 2020, Hansen visited Jackson's home in an attempt to interview him. Jackson called

969-601: Is a person who introduces or hosts television programs , often serving as a mediator for the program and the audience. It is common for people who garnered fame in other fields to take on this role, but some people have made their name solely within the field of presenting—such as children's television series or infomercials —to become television personalities. Often, presenters may double for being famed in other fields, such as an actor , model , comedian , musician , doctor , etc. Others may be subject-matter experts, such as scientists or politicians, serving as presenters for

1020-500: Is interested (police, FBI , military CID , etc.) then the chatlog and other information is not posted to the site until after a conviction has been reached. Before Perverted-Justice's "Information First" program and cold-calling policy became standard, logs that received no interest from law enforcement agencies were posted directly to the website. In November 2006, after the site's 100th conviction, Perverted-Justice announced that chat logs would no longer be posted unless law enforcement

1071-503: The BET news series American Gangster . The special, which was hosted by actor Ving Rhames , focused on Detroit drug lords , the Chambers Brothers gang. Hansen gave insight into the lives of the brothers based on the reporting he had done on them in the 1980s and 1990s as a reporter for ABC affiliate WXYZ (Channel 7) and NBC affiliate WDIV (Channel 4). In 2020, Hansen also made

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1122-613: The Federal Aviation Administration investigating and ultimately revising its policies. In conjunction with the website Perverted-Justice , Hansen hosted a series of Dateline NBC reports under the title To Catch a Predator . Volunteers from Perverted-Justice impersonated minor children (usually 13–15 year old) in chat rooms online and agreed to meet with adults for sex. The meeting places were "sting houses", where camera crews from NBC, and in later episodes local police, awaited potential sexual predators. Capitalizing on

1173-766: The National Press Club award, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists award; as well as awards for excellence from the Associated Press and United Press International . Hansen has appeared on such television programs as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart , The Tonight Show with Jay Leno , Late Night with Conan O'Brien , The Adam Carolla Show , Today , Scarborough Country , The Oprah Winfrey Show , The Rise Guys Morning Show , The Don and Mike Show , The Opie and Anthony Radio Show , Jimmy Kimmel Live! , Glenn Beck Program , and Diggnation . On January 9, 2007, Hansen appeared on

1224-620: The National Press Club award, and awards for excellence from the Associated Press and United Press International . Hansen and numerous subjects of his investigations have garnered online cult followings , and Hansen is considered a progenitor in content centered around sting operations. Hansen was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 13, 1959, and grew up in West Bloomfield Township and Birmingham, Michigan . In an interview with City Pulse , Hansen said that he first wanted to be

1275-523: The United States and numerous references and parodies in the media. Perverted-Justice's website documents convictions that include disorderly conduct , indecently soliciting a child, attempting to entice a juvenile to travel with intent to engage in sexual act, transporting child pornography , and possession and dissemination of child pornography. According to the official website, Perverted Justice contributed to at least 623 convictions while stating that

1326-444: The actual number is likely closer to 650. Perverted Justice formerly ran a website targeting individuals and groups involved in the online pedophile activist community. The site's stated objective was to "house our voluminous research regarding the identities and pursuits of those in the pedophile activist community". It listed a number of arrests of pedophile activists that it stated were based on its profiles. They have also built

1377-513: The campaign that donors claimed to have never received, and he was arrested in January 2019 for paying for $ 13,000 worth of promotional items with a bad check . Later broadcast rights were sold, with Hansen vs. Predator becoming a recurring segment on Crime Watch Daily . On August 22, 2016, Hansen was introduced as the new host of the syndicated news program Crime Watch Daily beginning with its second-season premiere on September 12. Hansen anchors

1428-518: The chatlog and details would be published on the site. Volunteers on the site's forums would then engage in "follow-up", attempting to identify and notify family members, employers, and neighbors. However, in December 2003, the organization set up its "Information First" program, in which interested police departments could contact Perverted-Justice, and any "busts" made within that department's jurisdiction would be sent straight to them without being posted to

1479-467: The couple divorced in 2020. The family resided in Stamford, Connecticut . Hansen also maintained a New York City apartment; however, in January, 2019 it was reported that he was evicted after failing to pay rent for the apartment since the previous August. His mother, Patricia Hansen, died on March 1, 2020. On November 13, 2021, Hansen and second wife Gabrielle Gagnon were married. In January 2019, Hansen

1530-549: The following months. In November 2004, the site teamed up with Dateline NBC in New York City to conduct a large sting operation , or "group media bust," entitled To Catch a Predator . Dateline rented a house and wired it with hidden cameras , while volunteers posed as minors in chat rooms, telling users who talked to them that they were home alone. "Within hours there were men literally lining up at our door," Dateline reported. In two-and-a-half days, 18 men showed up at

1581-462: The house after making a date with a Perverted-Justice volunteer. After the third installment of To Catch a Predator , Perverted-Justice hired an agent and put the group's services out for bid to several television networks. NBC came out ahead and continued the highly rated series. Since then, the To Catch a Predator series of reports has grown into a widely recognized phenomenon, with busts all over

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1632-489: The identifying information of the adults who are seeking sexual contact with minors (the adult seeking the minor may offer their telephone number or other details so that a meeting can be arranged), the organization would then pass the information on to law enforcement. Perverted-Justice's methods are controversial, and critics have labeled these actions harassment and possibly legal entrapment . The site additionally attracted media attention, both laudatory and critical, as

1683-491: The internet, and a site that targets organizations that Perverted-Justice believes allow pedophile activists to use their services. The foundation also offers free online training to law enforcement officers and has an intern program for college students. In late 2018, Perverted-Justice announced that, from the beginning of 2019, they would be formally ending decoy operations, and effectively cease all other operations afterwards. They also announced that they would be converting

1734-456: The legal system. Also, NBC journalist Stone Phillips from a Perverted Justice related event conceded that, "in many cases, the decoy is the first to bring up the subject of sex", leading to claims of illegal entrapment by the targets of Perverted Justices actions. According to Von Erck, Bruce Raisley, a private pilot and software developer made graphic violent threats against Perverted-Justice contributors and volunteers, and threatened to expose

1785-442: The official website to an archive of past operations and collected data, and removing other site features such as the forums. The data they proposed to compile and make accessible on the website, including thousands of formerly unseen chat logs, is available for research purposes in order to assist anti-pedophile groups and law enforcement with regard to understanding the behavior and techniques of online pedophiles. Perverted-Justice

1836-447: The online identities they used when posing as children. Raisley stated that he was a former Perverted-Justice member who left the group after he discovered that Perverted-Justice used a photograph of his son in a Perverted-Justice decoy profile, and failed to get a swift response from law enforcement. Allegations were made that Von Erck had "set out to destroy [Raisley] by posing as a woman, seducing him online with graphic sex chats, posting

1887-422: The police on Hansen, though the police did not take action against him. Jackson also filed a lawsuit against Hansen, which took place on January 24, 2020. Jackson later requested to dismiss the charges, claiming that he was advised to consider an "alternative, more effective legal action". This dismissal request was granted. Hansen was named as an executive producer for Unseamly: The Investigation of Peter Nygard ,

1938-406: The program from New York City, but it will maintain its Los Angeles–based newsroom. The second season also saw the premiere of Hansen vs. Predator , a revival of his previous To Catch a Predator series. Hansen's entry brought further ratings gains to the program, with household ratings increasing by 20% to 1.0, and a 23% gain among women 18–34. On January 4, 2017, Crime Watch Daily was renewed for

1989-426: The site say they do not initiate online contact with the users, and refuse to act on tips from the public as a result. If a user starts chatting to the volunteer and turns the conversation to sex, the volunteer responds positively and encourages them to divulge personal details, particularly a telephone number, ostensibly needed to verify their identity so that a meeting can be arranged. In the past, around this point

2040-517: The site's forums), to avoid another case like that of the Milwaukee bank teller, who received a threatening phone call from a man who had obtained her number from the website. The woman had never been online or even owned a computer, and was forced to change her number, which had previously been registered to the subject of a Perverted-Justice sting. Volunteers also take part in what the site's operators call "group media busts," where people are invited to

2091-616: The success of Hansen and his Predator investigations, Dateline NBC created three Tuesday night spin-offs of its original concept; Hansen hosted To Catch a Con Man and To Catch an I.D. Thief . In March 2007, Hansen's book, To Catch a Predator: Protecting Your Kids from Online Enemies Already in Your Home , was released in the American market. In August 2013, NBC decided not to renew its contract with Hansen, ultimately ending his tenure of 20 years. In 2015, Hansen hosted Killer Instinct ,

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2142-452: The term ' vigilante ' because it gets attention, but we don't consider ourselves vigilantes. We cultivate cooperation with police and work within the law to get justice, not outside of the law." Perverted-Justice functions by supporting volunteers who act as informants in chat rooms where minors can typically be found. The volunteers' public profiles have youthful-sounding usernames, young ages, and pictures of children. The administrators of

2193-416: The transcripts on the web, and threatening to release a purported video of the individual masturbating." Raisley was lured to an airport waiting area, where he was secretly photographed by associates of Von Erck. The photos were later posted online along with a warning against further threats and attacks. In 2010, Raisley was convicted of orchestrating a DDoS attack against sites carrying the story. Raisley

2244-408: The website. In the early days of the program, Perverted-Justice.com did not initiate contact with the police, professedly because officers were skeptical that its information could be used in a court of law . Since July 2004 when they facilitated their first conviction, the site's operators switched to a policy of cold calling local police with the information they obtained. If a government agency

2295-572: The years by a number of individuals and organizations, including many active-duty law enforcement officials and child-safety advocates. Active-duty law enforcement who have worked with the website on arrests have also gone on record speaking about the organization. Perverted-Justice and its volunteers have been criticized over the years by several individuals and organizations. Individuals opposing Perverted Justice see it as an organization that encourages extrajudicial violence and harassment against individuals who have not yet been convicted of any crime in

2346-535: Was charged with larceny after a check bounced with a vendor who delivered promotional items. Hansen turned himself in to police in Connecticut on January 14, 2019, for allegedly bouncing checks for nearly $ 13,000 worth of promotional materials, according to Stamford Police . The charges were later dropped. In relation to a sting operation that occurred in October 2020, Hansen was supposed to appear and present evidence in

2397-762: Was hired as an investigative reporter and anchor at WDIV in Detroit. In May 1993, Hansen joined NBC News as a correspondent for the short-lived news magazine Now with Tom Brokaw and Katie Couric . Hansen's notable work for Dateline includes coverage of the Columbine High School massacre , the Oklahoma City bombing , the Unabomber and the TWA Flight 800 disaster, and investigative reports on Indian child slave labor and counterfeit prescription drug sales in China. Hansen

2448-431: Was involved first, as "Information First" agreements were sufficient to cover most U.S. residents caught in a sting. The complete unedited chat logs, which usually contain sexually explicit content and obscenities (and sometimes are annotated with comments from the Perverted-Justice volunteer) are now posted to the website only after the person's legal case has been resolved. The current follow-up process consists of notifying

2499-567: Was responsible for most of Dateline's coverage of the September 11 attacks , as well as stories on terrorist groups and the operations of Al-Qaeda . He also exposed how a group linked to Osama bin Laden had attempted to buy missiles and nuclear weapons components, and he also worked on an exclusive report on the Air France Flight 8969 hijacking . His series on deficient airport security resulted in

2550-455: Was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay $ 90,383 in restitution for the attacks. In late 2018, the official site announced that they would end active decoy operations at the start of 2019. In addition to formally ending the chat room decoy operations that they were well known for, Perverted-Justice founder Xavier Von Erck announced that the organization would be suspending all active operations in 2019. The Perverted-Justice website

2601-427: Was set up in 2002 by Frank Fencepost and Xavier Von Erck (born Philip John Eide). The organization says that its online operations have led to 623 convictions as of October 8, 2018, with over 200 more currently awaiting trial, and an average of 25 arrests a month for the year of 2006. In 2006, the organization reported annual income of US$ 825,000 (equivalent to about $ 1,247,000 in 2023), with Von Erck earning

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