NEW YORK – The prosecutor for Bergen County, New Jersey, has issued a warning about the dangers of what they call “policing activity” that has taken place in recent months involving a private citizen who was targeting people who were allegedly trying to attract minors.
According to the District Attorney’s Office warning issued late last week, in recent months, Bergen County has reported a number of instances in which a private citizen uses the Internet to identify individuals who are allegedly attempting to entice minors into sexual activity. . This person is allegedly arranging the arrest of these selected people and later publicizing the scenarios and arrests on YouTube.
However, the Bergen County Attorney’s Office and Bergen County law enforcement are urging citizens not to engage in what they call “policing activity,” saying it poses a threat of violence and harm to all people involved and innocent bystanders. It also, they warn, “also undermines the due process rights of potential targets, endangers private citizens, and risks involving law enforcement agencies in illegal activity.”
Prosecutors go on to say that private citizens are advised not to engage in these activities, but rather to let law enforcement agencies file appropriate charges against individuals who violate criminal law by engaging in these activities.
“Private citizens who attract potential defendants will be called to testify as witnesses during court proceedings, as this practice ensures they are witnesses to an alleged crime,” the prosecutor’s office said. “Also note that individuals who engage in this surveillance activity may also be subject to civil liability.”
