True Crime
The Forgotten Story of How Harper Lee Investigated an Astonishing Murder in Alabama
Author Casey Cep discusses her new book about Harper Lee's unfinished manuscript detailing the alleged crimes of an Alabama preacher and the man who shot him.
How the Fairbanks Four Finally Found Freedom
George Frese, Kevin Pease, Marvin Roberts, and Eugene Vent — better known as the Fairbanks Four—spent 18 years in prison for a murder they didn’t commit. On the anniversary of the crime, a look at how their incarceration exposed the deep racial divides within the local community.
Where Were the Usual Suspects in 'Murderer'?
By leaving out crucial statistics, the Netflix phenomenon plays into clichés about murdered women.
Letters to Prison
In 1989 in Fairbanks, Alaska, Byran Perotti killed Johnny Jackson in cold blood. The community's silence around the murder compounded the shock of the crime itself.
A True Crime Expert Weighs in on HBO's 'The Jinx'
Criminologist and author Michael Arntfield talks with us about the past and future of true crime.
The NYPD Standoff and Broken Windows Policing
The New York Police Department has been cutting down on arrests. Is that necessarily a bad thing?
The Very Real Dangers of Tasers
Scientific research reveals the harmful effects of Tasers, on both body and mind.
The White Cop Who Embraced #BlackLivesMatter
How a cop whose last job was policing the streets of Fargo, North Dakota, turned around a town that had a reputation as one of the most violent places in America.
Problems With Police Sanctions
Recent research about ways to deal with police misconduct, and some of its unintended consequences.
The Links Between Mental Illness and Gun Violence
Vanderbilt University’s Jonathan Metzl and Kenneth MacLeish address our anxieties and correct our assumptions.
The Cost of Juvenile Incarceration
States pay hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to keep each juvenile offender behind bars. A new report calculates that long-term costs of incarceration could add up to $21 billion annually.
Can Kids Who Survive Crimes Be Re-Traumatized by Press?
New research cautions journalists against harming their most vulnerable sources.
For Juvenile Records, It's 'Justice by Geography'
A new study finds an inconsistent patchwork of policies across states for how juvenile records are sealed and expunged.
The End to Race-Based Lockdowns in California Prisons
The legacy of “tough on crime” legislation has historically allowed correctional authorities to conceal and pursue politics that would be illegal anywhere else. Could that finally be changing?
The Unscientific Science of Jury Selection
The techniques of jury consultants are unreliable, and often incentivize the use of lazy stereotypes.
Odometer Fraud Continues to Plague Used Car Sales
The tools and methods have evolved over the decades, but the crime remains the same.
When Your Stalker Is a Cop
Where do you go for help when the people who are meant to keep you safe are the real danger?
Cycles of Fear and Bias in the Criminal Justice System
Exploring the psychological roots of racial disparity in U.S. prisons.
The Psychology of Bribery and Corruption
An FBI agent offered up confidential information about a political operative’s enemy in exchange for cash—and they both got caught. What were they thinking?
Faster Justice, Closer: The Power of Community Courts
Community courts across the country are fighting judicial backlog and lowering re-arrest rates.
Why Solitary Confinement Hurts Juveniles More Than Adults
New York City is ending its use of solitary confinement for juvenile offenders. Here's the science behind the decision.
Can Prisons Predict Which Inmates Will Try to Escape?
And what can they do to prevent it?
Adoption Fraud and Pregnancy Scams
Another group that's especially vulnerable to scams and fraud is that made up of those who are desperate to adopt a child.