perverted justice

It may contain improper references to self-published sources. Tagged since February 2008.

Front page of the Perverted-Justice website, 2007, with new logo and log of successful convictions

Perverted Justice Foundation, Inc.,[1][2] more commonly known as Perverted-Justice (also known as PeeJ), is a California-based non-profit organization that investigates, identifies, and publicizes adults who solicit online sexual conversations with adults posing as children. Perverted-Justice's methods are controversial, and a number of critics have labeled these actions harassment.[3][4][5][6][7][8] Perverted-Justice consists of volunteers who carry out sting operations by posing as 10-15 year old minors on chat sites and waiting for adults to approach them. After obtaining identifying information from these men, who may offer their telephone numbers and other details so that meetings can be arranged, the organization passes the information on to law-enforcement.[9] Perverted-Justice has attracted media attention, both laudatory and critical, as a result of their collaboration with Dateline NBC on a series of televised sting operations called "To Catch a Predator".

Perverted-Justice also operates a site that targets groups and individuals it identifies as being involved in the pedophile activist community,[10] a site that provides information to abuse victims on their legal recourse,[11] a site that gives advice to children and teenagers on dealing with grooming on the internet,[12] and a site that targets organizations that Perverted-Justice believes allow pedophile activists to use their services.[13] The foundation also offers free online training to law enforcement officers[14] and has an intern program for college students.[15] Contents [hide] 1 Overview 2 Methods 3 Media 4 Convictions 5 Other activities 6 Reception 6.1 Praise 6.2 Criticism 7 Notable incidents 8 References 9 External links //

Overview

Perverted Justice was set up in 2002 by Frank Fencepost and Xavier Von Erck (born Philip John Eide[16][17][18][19][20]). The organization says that its online operations have led to the convictions of 314 men as of March 28, 2009,[21] with over 200 more currently awaiting trial, and an average of 25 arrests a month for the year of 2006.[22] Von Erck is also credited with locating a 14-year-old girl who was kidnapped, raped, and tortured by a 47-year-old man she met online.[23]

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.[18] After a falling-out over a vitriolic chat log with a phone verifier in 2004, Fencepost was dismissed