Crime & Crime Prevention

Sometimes the search for a fugitive can occupy a city. Other times, the hunt is fierce enough to dominate a nation, or even several countries. Which criminals can claim they spurred some of the craziest manhunts ever?

By Laurie L. Dove

The Brady bill of 1993 established mandatory background checks for firearms purchases. But that only applies to Federal Firearms Licensees, not to private sellers. What's involved in a background check - and would expanding them lessen gun crime?

By Julia Layton

You've heard the stat reported by the Mother Jones team: Since 1982, there have been 62 mass shootings in America, crimes like the one that James Holmes is accused of. Only one of those shootings was carried out by a woman. Why?

By Kate Kershner

Most people sentenced to death in the U.S. get at least one stay of execution. In one case, the stay came a minute too late because of a misdialed phone number. Here are 10 of the most unusual cases.

By Patrick J. Kiger

It's not always easy to convince a jury that someone didn't know right from wrong. Here are 10 of the world's most notable insanity defenses.

By Maria Trimarchi

It's a pretty straightforward question with an obvious answer, right? Well, yes, until you start peering at both federal and state laws. That's when things start to get interesting.

By Nicholas Gerbis

Numerous high-profile mass killings across the U.S. have made the debate over gun control even more heated. With so many studies and arguments out there, we inject some impartial facts in the gun control debate.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Copycat crimes aren't a 21st-century phenomena. Some of the first ones were documented during the late 19th century, when cases like Jack the Ripper held the world's attention. What's new is the inordinate media attention. Does it change the game?

By John Perritano

Ask a card-carrying member of the NRA and you'll get one answer. Ask a member of Everytown for Gun Safety and you'll get another. We look at the research that underlies this controversial topic.

By Patrick J. Kiger & Nicholas Gerbis

Dive into the darkest corners of the world's aging legislation and you'll find statutes that will puzzle even the most lawful citizen. Case in point: prohibiting pretzels with beer.

By Chris Opfer

The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, had a profound effect on the United States -- and the world. Trace the progression of events in this timeline.

By Nathan Chandler

Drugs are serious business, especially in Mexico. In fact, Mexican cartels have gone to great lengths to protect their turf, building Mad Max-style armored vehicles. What's the deal with these so-called narco tanks?

By Lance Looper

The confusion and terror following the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center left many searching for answers. Some conspiracy theorists point to conflicting reports and murky political agendas in their alternative versions of the event.

By Jane McGrath

The events of Sept. 11, 2001, left America and much of the world wondering who could have been responsible for the devastating attacks. Who exactly hijacked and flew the planes, and how did they get involved with the plot?

By Jane McGrath

If Abraham Lincoln ended slavery in the United States, why is so much money still being made to sell others into bondage? Here, we'll examine how human trafficking works.

By Molly Edmonds

Police sketches may be a routine part of law enforcement investigations, but they've been key to solving some extraordinary cases. How do forensic artists create these renderings, and how reliable are they, really? Find out in How Police Sketches Work.

By Cristen Conger

In murder-mystery TV shows, detectives look for clues to find the killer. Part of that involves getting into the murderer's mind-set. What factors make it easier for one person to take the life of another?

By Jonathan Strickland

Terrorists work very hard to remain undetected. After all, if we knew where they were, we could stop them from attacking. But they usually work in small groups, or even alone. How do law enforcement officials track them down?

By Jonathan Strickland

The media saturates us with stories of violence, but most people leave them on the page or screen. So what made these copycat killers act out?

By Josh Clark & Laurie L. Dove

The police knock on your door, and a knot forms in your stomach when you're told the reason for the handcuffs: You're being arrested for a crime you haven't committed -- yet.

By Shanna Freeman

Does the mere mention of a criminal record invoke thoughts of something sinister to you? As it turns out, having a criminal record in the United States isn't as uncommon as it once was.

By Brette Sember

What if your pen pal was a prison inmate? That's the idea behind a prison project designed to connect middle school students with prisoners. What influence did these pen pals have on kids?

By Jane McGrath

Prisons spy on inmates' telephone conversations to make sure the crooks aren't trafficking drugs or organizing gang riots from behind bars. But does this monitoring infringe on their rights?

By Jane McGrath

The most high-tech prison of its day, built on an island of rock and fortified by concrete and steel, Alcatraz was created to house the worst of the worst.

By Ed Grabianowski

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.

By Julia Layton