New Jersey Prosecutor Asking Public to Stop Vigilante ‘Catch a Predator’ Stings

Robert Walker

CAMDEN, NJ – In recent years, there has been a growing trend in New Jersey where internet actors have been publicly attempting to catch child predators online.  While the effort has led to several arrests in the past, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office says it isn’t helping their effort.  Now, they are asking these vigilantes, viewed in their own towns as local heroes in many cases to stop.

Many of New Jersey’s prosecutors are now appointees of Governor Phil Murphy, replacing those appointed by former Governor Chris Christie.

The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office has seen an uptick in citizens attempting to lure individuals suspected of criminal activity to public locations,” the prosecutor’s office said. “Actions such as these have the potential to put all parties and innocent bystanders in danger.  These activities are not appropriate and may actually jeopardize law enforcement investigations and prosecutions of offenders.”

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The Camden Prosecutor’s Office says leave the act of catching child predators to the professionals. Except in many cases, the professionals don’t act on leads provided to them by the community and many child sexual predators are released hours after capture under New Jersey’s bail reform act.


So, public humiliation has become the next best thing for many in these cases.


“Law enforcement officers are extensively trained on the proper methods to safely and successfully apprehend individuals suspected of criminal activity,” the office said today. “The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office is requesting that the public exercise restraint and allow law enforcement personnel to follow the proper procedures to conduct investigations and make safe apprehensions that culminate in successful prosecutions.”

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