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Legal System
The Legal System Channel features information related to how society deals with crime, criminals and law enforcement. Learn more about how governments operate their legal systems.
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Do police really write tickets to make money?
After you get a speeding ticket, you've probably mumbled (after the police officer left, of course) something about all this being some kind of racket. Well, you're probably right. Many police departments depend on traffic ticket revenue.
What is the oldest cold case ever solved?
This tragic cold case occurred during the Eisenhower administration, but was not solved until the Obama administration. Why did it take 55 years, and what finally cracked it?
How can police use drones?
Johnny Law has some new flying toys that could come in handy in the fight against crime.
How Police Body Cameras Work
The next time you interact with a police officer, you might be staring at the eye of a video camera. About a third of U.S. police departments (and more internationally) have issued body cameras to their patrol officers. Here's what you need to know.
Do some people get called for jury duty more than others?
Ever wonder why you've been called for jury duty four times while your friend has never got a summons? Are you on some secret list of the "ready and available"? We'll give you the scoop.
10 Historically Pivotal Murders
Few incidents shaped the U.S. civil rights movement more than the brutal death of Emmett Till. What other murders have sent shock waves through the public psyche?
Do people in prison really make toilet wine?
When most people think of the words "wine" and "toilet," they're probably not thinking about a fermentation strategy. But as countless prisoners over the years have discovered, when it comes to alcohol, if there's a will, there's a way.
10 Weirdest Things Spotted by the TSA
It could happen: As you're rushing to get to the airport, you absentmindedly throw a gassed-up chain saw into your suitcase. Or a bag of live eels. Yes, TSA officials really spotted these items at U.S. airports. And stranger things, too.
10 Whistleblowers and the Horrors They Exposed
There are people willing to sneak grimy, dirty classified files and documents from under lock and key and into the disinfecting power of sunlight. Here are 10 people who went public with stories of hidden corruption.
How Free Speech Works
In the U.S., can you truly say anything you want, or are there limits? Who decides them? And might this change in the age of the globally connected village?
10 Places You're Probably Being Watched Every Day
In the park. On the bus. At the mall. At your job. Is there any place you can go and not be watched? After reading this article, you may agree the answer is "no."
10 Real-life Costumed Crime Fighters
Masked crime fighters aren't just the stuff of Marvel and DC comics and films. These characters may not have superpowers, but they feel the call to keep citizens safe and serve their communities.
How the PRISM Surveillance System Works
If you need an analogy for PRISM, one apt comparison would be to HBO's show "The Wire." Just swap "U.S. government" for Baltimore police, "Internet data" for phone wiretaps, and name the target as "really anyone" instead of drug traffickers. Got it?
Is gun violence or terrorism a bigger threat to the United States?
There's no doubt the Boston bombings rattled the U.S. Should the country's policy makers be equally rattled by daily gun violence?
What's the difference between mass murder and terrorism?
The U.S. was quick to denounce 9/11 as an act of terrorism. Drawing the line between mass murder and terrorism isn't always that straightforward though.
Is April the Most Violent Month?
Baseball, taxes and unconscionable acts of mass violence. That's what April has been all about in recent decades. Are there really more acts of terrorism in April and if so, why?
How Manhunts Work
The hunt for the brothers Tsarnaev may have been the most intense one that Boston has seen in a long time, but law enforcement agencies have been practicing the art of getting their man (or woman) for centuries.
10 Biggest Manhunts of All Time
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?
How Miranda Rights Work
Any viewer of a TV cop show has heard of the Miranda rights. They include the rights to remain silent, to have an attorney and so on. Why are they called the Miranda rights, and why must U.S. police recite them to arrestees?
How Firearm Background Checks Work
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?
Why are most mass murderers men?
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?
10 Last-minute Stays of Execution
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.
10 Uses of the Insanity Defense
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.
Can a felon own a gun in the United States?
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.
10 Big Questions in the U.S. Gun Control Debate
Several recent high-profile mass killings in the U.S. have stepped up the very heated gun control debate. With so many studies and arguments out there, we inject some impartial facts in the gun control debate.
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