Constitutional issues in reality-based police television programs: Media ride-alongs

Reality-based police television programs have been criticized extensively on the grounds that they overestimate the prevalence of violent crime, misrepresent the percentage of criminals who are minorities, and perpetuate myths about the effectiveness of law enforcement. However, few critiques have e...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Worrall, John L. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2000
In: American journal of criminal justice
Year: 2000, Volume: 25, Issue: 1, Pages: 41-64
Online Access: Volltext (lizenzpflichtig)
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Keywords:
Constitutional Issue
Private Residence
Fourth Amendment
Arrest Warrant
Police Officer
Description
Summary:Reality-based police television programs have been criticized extensively on the grounds that they overestimate the prevalence of violent crime, misrepresent the percentage of criminals who are minorities, and perpetuate myths about the effectiveness of law enforcement. However, few critiques have examined the constitutional issues behind reality-based police television programs. This paper examines constitutional issues arising from Section 1983 litigation against both the police and the media for media presence during the execution of warrants. It concludes that media presence has important implications for analyses regarding people’s right to privacy, color of law, qualified immunity, and Fourth Amendment reasonableness.
ISSN:1936-1351
DOI:10.1007/BF02886810