Breaking Out: A Dozen Great Escapes

The TV show "Prison Break" is the story of a structural engineer named Michael Scofield who gets himself locked up so that he can help his brother escape death row. Learn about some amazing real-life escapes.

Can contagious shooting explain what happened in New York this weekend?

Police fired 50 shots at three apparently unarmed men in a car leaving a bachelor party in New York this weekend, and investigators still aren't sure why.

Do criminal psychopaths enjoy other peoples fear or just not notice it?

Psychopaths can commit horrible crimes without feeling any guilt at all. A recent study of psychopathic brains may shed some light on what's going on -- or not going on -- in these people's heads.

Five Impressive Art Heists

While not every art heist can compare to the "Thomas Crown Affair," several jobs stand out for their ingenuity. How does a thief walk away with a multi-million dollar work of art?

Five Largest Diamond Heists

A diamond heist is no mere robbery. It’s a feat of patience and engineering that yields enormous payouts. So what are the five largest heists?

How Bail Works

We hope you'll never need to know the ins-and-outs of getting out of jail. Bail allows people to leave jail and continue their lives while awaiting trial. How does the bail system work?

How could someone steal a painting from a museum?

With modern security, how can thieves walk out of a museum with millions of dollars worth of art? It usually just takes force and a little bravado.

How Criminal Recycling Works

There's a growing band of lawbreakers in town tarnishing recycling's squeaky green reputation. Who are these criminals, and why are they desperate for copper?

How Diamond Thieves Work

Diamond thieves can be clever criminals who orchestrate multimillion-dollar heists or small-time jewelers who switch the real thing for fakes. What makes stealing a diamond so attractive?

How do you keep a safe house safe?

Maybe you’re an escaped criminal or an undercover spy. You're someone who needs to stay under the radar. What you need is a safe house.

How does death by hanging work?

In the final days of 2006, former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein was hanged for the 1982 murders of 148 people. Many people might be surprised to learn that hanging, when carried out with modern techniques, can be one of the quickest and most painless ways to be executed. Find out what happens during a judicial hanging.

How Lethal Injection Works

Lethal injection is not a light topic, but it's the subject of much debate. Find out about the various procedures.

How Prisons Work

As an abstract term, prison is quite simple, but for anyone who has ever done time, it's incredibly complex. Learn what life is like inside prisons in the United States.

How Serial Killers Work

What makes a person not only murder, but murder multiple people over days, weeks and even years? There's a special name for these types of murderers: serial killers.

How Squatting Works

If squatters have taken over your property, keep your cool: They've got a lot more rights than you may realize. How do squatters operate, and how can you get them off your land?