MovieChat Forums > Cops (1989) Discussion > Do the suspects have to sign a release f...

Do the suspects have to sign a release form to be shown?

posted 8 years ago by webifi
8 replies | jump to latest

You'd think they have to sign some sort of waiver or release form for the producers of Cops to be able to show the various suspects identity or face.

But unless the shows producers are paying them to do so, why the hell would anyone consent to being shown on Cops given that almost all the time the suspects are in a very, very embarrassing position like the police officers manhandling them or brutalizing them like making them sit on the ground like children, ramming their face into the dirt or a favorite police maneuver, which is to jam their elbow or knee on someone's neck while they are on concrete.

Or where the suspicion is that the suspects are criminals doing unsavory things.

[–] Beeracuda 8 years ago

I'm about 100% sure that they have to sign a waiver, giving them the right to show their face on TV.

As for why they would allow it, well... most of these people shown on the show aren't exactly the sharpest tools in the shed. I mean, anyone who would take the police on a high-speed pursuit all over town, then jump out and run through yards, only to be tackled by the cops, then have the nerve to yell "What did I do?", aren't exactly playing with a full deck.

[–] webifi 8 years ago

@Beeracuda

Considering how extremely selfish most human beings are, I don't see why they would agree without compensation. It just beggars belief that criminals and suspects would allow themselves to be shown in embarrassing situations like that for no reason other than to help out the producers of Cops make money and gain success on the backs of their misery and legal troubles.

[–] GrammarMatters 8 years ago

I probably watch WAY too much of this show (I've seen most episodes 3 or 4 times) - but I'm SO tired of stupid criminals lying their asses off to the cops, and constantly saying: "I didn't do nuffin."

It must be so irritating for cops to deal with idiots every day who say: "I wouldn't lie to you officer" after they've blatantly lied to the cop, and before they continue to lie - again and again.

[–] PenTheater 8 years ago

and I wager that most of those folks sign the waver for a saw buck!
Twenty dollars that is, cuz that's a lot of money!

Ephemeron.

[–] webifi 8 years ago

@altpensacola

Geez dude, really? A sawbuck is $10. Not $20.

[–] PenTheater 8 years ago

I knew I should have looked that up!

Ephemeron.

[–] GrammarMatters 8 years ago

I believe most are paid a small amount of money to get their signature on a release form.

You will notice that some people in the background of some episodes have their faces blurred out. Those people probably didn't sign - or walked away before producers could get their signatures.

[–] Techto (1316) a year ago

The suspects need to give their permission to appear on the show.
Contrary to popular belief, being arrested doesn’t absolve anyone of his or her right to not be filmed for a national television show. Producers on Cops have to get releases signed by arrestees and suspects. If they’re already handcuffed, the crew can follow them to jail and get them to sign there. Langley has said that proper timing is key when it comes to getting their permission—during a fight is a problem—and estimated that 95 percent of everyone filmed signs a waiver to appear. According to Langley, they simply want to be on television.

No, they don't pay the cops.
Langley, who has been critical of mulch of the reality television that followed in his wake, has always had a firm no-compensation policy for anyone featured on the show, suspect or police officer. “We don’t pay people to be themselves,” he told Entertainment Weekly in 2011. “If you pay them, you’re affecting their behavior.”

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/576539/cops-reality-tv-series-facts