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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Canadian student Elisa Lam went missing in 2013 and the mystery surrounding her death captured national attention. So what really happened to this 21-year-old?

By Diana Brown

Richard and Mildred Loving's interracial marriage was against the law. But it led to the Supreme Court's historic decision in 1967 to ban anti-miscegenation laws across the country.

By Kate Kershner

Research shows that nicotine residue lingering in furniture and carpets may be hazardous to kids. Could that mean legal action for unsuspecting homeowners and tenants?

By Dave Roos

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The TSA can open your checked bags at an airport. But how deep can they dig into electronic devices they find inside?

By Patrick J. Kiger

Antarctica belongs to no one nation. So what happens in the event of a crime?

By Dave Roos

While the press often gets a beating from the public and politicians, journalists have brought to national attention lots of issues that would otherwise remain hidden.

By Patrick J. Kiger

The U.S. has thousands of prisoners in solitary confinement. But experts are now saying it does more harm than good.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

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If someone is insulting you or your family and you clock 'em, can you get away with it, legally?

By Dave Roos

Companies are actually hoping you won't read these 8,000-word documents before you click "agree." But why?

By Dave Roos

Good Samaritan laws are intended to protect you from a lawsuit if you help strangers during an emergency. But they may not protect you in every situation.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Should you ever find yourself in the middle of a protest, you're going to want to avoid being targeted by one of these 'less-lethal' weapons.

By John Donovan

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Some serial killers have murdered more than 100 people. Who are the worst serial killers in the world, and why did they do it?

By Patrick J. Kiger

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

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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

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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 & Nicole Antonio

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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