The book, entitled Dark Justice: Inside the World of Paedophile Hunters, is based on Mark’s research while embedding for 4 years with a group of UK paedophile hunters on sting operations. It neither glorifies nor condemns the people who conduct these hunting activities.
“Mark de Rond offers balanced and insightful answers to the perplexing question of why these groups persist in using extreme methods to hold predators to account in view of less harmful alternatives,” says publisher CUP. “In doing so, he invites us to consider the societal impacts of paedophile hunters on our laws and institutions, as well as societal cohesion and safety.”
Sundance Film Festival nomination for documentary Predators
A documentary film on paedophile hunting, which featured extensive interview comment by Mark, was nominated as Best US Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival held in Park City, Utah, in January-February 2025. The film, Predators, examined the rise and fall of an NBC television show To Catch a Predator, in which sting operations were televised.
Mark first published findings from his research in a 2022 academic paper published in the Academy of Management Journal. His work won first place-honours in the Academic Research category of the Financial Times 2024 Responsible Business Education Awards for best business school impactful academic research addressing societal challenges.
Featured research
de Rond, M. (2025) Dark justice: inside the world of paedophile hunters. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
de Rond, M., Lok, J. and Marrison, A. (2022) “To catch a predator: the lived experience of extreme practices.” Academy of Management Journal, 65(3): 870-902 (DOI: 10.5465/amj.2020.1492)
Related articles
Premiering at Sundance, the film Predators features Professor Mark de Rond on the controversial practice of exposing alleged child predators through paedophile hunting. The film was nominated for US Best Documentary.
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Top 10 reads of 2024
The students, faculty and other stakeholders of Cambridge Judge Business School reflect diverse backgrounds and interests, and our Top 10 reads of 2024 also reflect that diverse theme. Articles on our website that attracted the most readers this past year ranged from how digital media affects children to a new Dean, and from sustainability to artificial intelligence.
Business School announcements
FT Responsible Business Education Awards: 2 wins for Cambridge Judge
Purpose of Finance course wins top Teaching award and a study on paedophile hunters wins Academic Research award, while Cambridge Judge is Highly Commended for School-wide activities in the Financial Times awards for business education responsibility and impact.