The legality of HBO documentaries

A couple nights ago I was watching an HBO documentary that basically boiled down to cameramen following druggies. There were several people and couples in (I think) NYC that lived on the street and just conned people out of their money and then used it to buy heroine and crack…they shot up in commercial areas (like the bathroom of a Target and a Walmart)…they made several thousands of dollars doing many illegal things, but they were always poor because it all went to hard drugs.

Then there are other documentaries that HBO shows randomly, usually involving prostitutes. Not fluffy stuff like the Bunny ranch (which is actually A-OK legally)…just down and dirty street life that makes me feel quite lucky to be where I am.

This is all well and good, not to mention entertaining, but how in the world is this legal? It seems at some point all these people following the druggies and the hookers would be complicit in said crimes.

How are they complicit if all they’re doing is following them around? There is not AFAIK any affirmative duty for a journalist to intervene to stop illegal acts.

Also, it is important to note that while it is simply good maners to have people sign disclaimers before they are filmed in public, I believe there is no law against it.