Crime & Crime Prevention

The gangster most known for facilitating the creation of the modern American Mafia was the head of organized crime in New York City in the 1930s. But the U.S. government asked for his help during World War II.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Recording a video that could potentially become evidence in a criminal case can make your life very complicated. So what do you need to consider before you pull out your phone?

By Patrick J. Kiger

The brutal Colombian drug lord was a millionaire in his 20s but died in a hail of gunfire the day after his 44th birthday.

By John Donovan

Chances are you get several packages mailed to your house. Are you worried about package theft? We've got some tips to derail porch pirates.

By Dave Roos

A new documentary by director Sam Bathrick follows rapper Todd "Speech" Thomas of Arrested Development as he works with inmates in a Virginia jail to create music and change lives.

By Stell Simonton

They may have been hard-bitten crooks, but when John Dillinger, Arthur Barker and "Pretty Boy" Floyd were at large, ordinary citizens loved to follow their exploits. Find out what you know about these and other gangsters with our quiz.

By Mark Mancini

Red flag laws allow police to seize the firearms of a person who is viewed as a potential threat to commit a violent act, without charging them with a crime. But how often do they prevent mass killings?

By Patrick J. Kiger

There's a huge police presence in the U.S. school systems today. But has that presence allowed educators to push off their management of school misconduct to the cops?

By John Donovan

Eighty-seven years ago today, the FBI took down America's first true celebrity criminal and the country's Public Enemy No. 1.

By Oisin Curran

The National Neighborhood Watch Program was originally established in 1972 as a local response to neighborhood crime. How has the idea evolved over time?

By Tara Yarlagadda

Forgery is one of the most difficult crimes to successfully carry off. But these six sure tried. What tripped them up?

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

The food we're feeding those incarcerated in the U.S. prison system is not only bad for their health, but it's also bad for John Q. Taxpayer's wallet.

By John Donovan

A new serial podcast delves into the tragic deaths of at least six members of the Hart family, whose SUV was driven off a cliff in California in early 2018.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

One out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape, and many are afraid to or don't know how to report it.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

William Burke and William Hare cut out the middleman in the early 19th-century Scottish grave-robbing game.

By Jesslyn Shields

Political ideology serves as a motivator for some people to commit espionage, but it's not the only factor at play when someone decides to spy.

By Jerad W. Alexander

In the vast majority of cases, a child, parent, spouse or friend who goes missing returns home unharmed. But if they don't, would you know what to do first?

By Dave Roos

An active shooter situation at work may not be common, but you should really know how you'd handle it before it happens.

By Dave Roos

Psychics often try to help police solve crimes, but how many times are they really successful?

By Diana Brown

President Donald Trump says if the U.S. just deports members of the MS-13 gang, the country will be much safer. But is it really that simple?

By John Donovan

From public letters to anime porn, the 470,000 public files offer a window into the last years of al-Qaida mastermind Osama bin Laden.

By Diana Brown

Where do we draw the line between interesting and appalling?

By Diana Brown

The Mann Act was passed in 1910 and even though it's been used legitimately, it's also been abused to nab men of color like Jack Johnson and Chuck Berry.

By John Donovan

High-profile cases over the past few years have shown the benefits — and pitfalls — of asking the public to report any suspicious activities they notice to the police. When does that tip over into racial or ethnic bias?

By Dave Roos

Drug courts have changed the lives of the thousands of people who've "graduated" through the program. But how exactly do the judges, rehab facilities and counselors facilitate these courts, and do they deter repeat offenders?

By John Perritano