Legal System

Inmates have been using cigarettes as currency for more than a century in U.S. prisons. So what's behind the switch to ramen cups at one prison?

By Robert Lamb

The Supreme Court has ruled in a big Fourth Amendment case that under certain circumstances, evidence found during an illegal stop could be used in legal proceedings.

By Ben Bowlin

Let it be know that using illegal drugs in any foreign country almost certainly comes with it’s own set of potential risks. However, narcotics offenders in some countries face much steeper fines, longer prison stays and, in some cases, a more brutal death sentence if they’re caught. So if you happen to visit any of […] The post 11 Countries That Impose Severely Harsh Drug Penalties appeared first on Goliath.

By Wes Walcott

Free speech is one of America's most fiercely guarded freedoms, but that doesn't mean that citizens can say whatever they like with no threat of punishment. In several cases, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of limitations.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

From 2011 to 2013, California released 33,000 prisoners early. One study measures the impact non-violent prisoner "realignment" has had on crimes rates in the state.

By Chris Opfer

As much as we all want to believe that law enforcement officials are always the good guys who will do whatever they can to serve and protect the community, there have been a number of cases over the decades and in recent years that demonstrate exactly the opposite. Below you’ll find examples of several police […] The post 7 Cops Who Turned Out To Be Serial Killers appeared first on Goliath.

By Wes Walcott

We explore the economics and ethics of prison-made goods.

By Dave Roos

Being a criminal is certainly not an easy life, and, as a result, some people aren’t suited for a career of misdeeds. Most people avoid it because they have a strong moral compass, while others are drawn to or forced into this lifestyle, but are simply too stupid to pull off illegal acts successfully. The […] The post 10 Of The Stupidest Criminals Of All Time appeared first on Goliath.

By Kale Havervold

Even though they wear thousand dollar suits, sit behind expensive desks and make ridiculous money, rich businessmen can still be criminals and steal your money. White collar crime is a type of crime that has been taking place for decades and still runs rampant in the modern day. Some of the people that will appear on […] The post 10 Of The Worst White Collar Criminals In History appeared first on Goliath.

By Kale Havervold

Americans have a macabre fascination with serial killers. And it's particularly engrossing to speculate about the ones still at large. Here are the stories behind 10 serial killers who got away.

By Suzie Dundas & Nick Steinberg

These prisons house some of the world's most notorious criminals. But battles rage behind their walls, oftentimes leaving inmates susceptible to torture, disease and even death. These are some of the worst prisons on the planet.

By Cherise Threewitt & Rachel Despres

After you get a speeding ticket, you've probably mumbled (after the police officer left, of course) something about being stopped to satisfy a quota. Well, you're probably right. Lots of police departments have speeding ticket quotas.

By Cherise Threewitt

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.

By Cherise Threewitt

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?

By Alia Hoyt

Johnny Law has some new flying toys that could come in handy in the fight against crime.

By Chris Opfer

Breaking out of a prison is no easy feat. Many prisons have security features such as CCTV, motion detectors, barred windows, massive walls, barbed wire, electric fencing, and armed guards. Despite these and other obstacles, some prisoners will exhaust the limits of their wit and ingenuity and take every opportunity they can to escape. Prison […] The post 10 Real-Life Prison Breaks That Will Blow Your Mind appeared first on Goliath.

By Kevin Saltarelli

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.

By Julia Layton

Since the dawn of human civilization, rulers have had to devise punishments for unacceptable behavior. Sincere attempts were occasionally made to ensure that the punishment fit the crime, like the concept of an Eye for an Eye. By contrast, the word “Draconian,” attributed to the ruler Draco of ancient Athens around 621 BC, is synonymous […] The post 12 Shocking Punishments For Minor Crimes appeared first on Goliath.

By Kevin Saltarelli

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.

By Dave Roos

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?

By Gallagher Flinn

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.

By Laurie L. Dove

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.

By Dave Roos

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.

By Nathan Chandler

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?

By Julia Layton

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."

By Laurie L. Dove