crime
From Poe to Mao: piecing together the evolution of detective stories
Detective fiction reveals how a particular society or time period looks at crime and criminal justice.
To the moon? Five microeconomic lessons from Bitcoin
Bitcoin is often derided as volatile, but a new report suggests there is a method to the madness.
Psychopaths don’t move their heads when talking
A new study found that people who scored high in certain psychopathic traits are more likely to limit head movements.
How the CIA used LSD to fight communism
Before it fueled Woodstock and the Summer of Love, LSD was brought to America to make spying easier.
Recidivism: breaking the cycle from father to son
Our program lowers reincarceration rates by 44 percent.
Air pollution linked to violent crime in Chicago
As air pollution increases, so does violent crime.
Study: You would spend 90 extra days in jail in a private prison
A new study suggests that private prisons hold prisoners for a longer period of time, wasting the cost savings that private prisons are supposed to provide over public ones.
Become an expert in cybersecurity with this innovative new bundle
Prep for the most essential cybersecurity exams with over 400 hours of training.
America’s prison catastrophe: Can we undo it?
The US prison system continues to fail, so why does it still exist?
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Psychopath-ish: How “healthy” brains can look and function like those of psychopaths
A recent study used fMRI to compare the brains of psychopathic criminals with a group of 100 well-functioning individuals, finding striking similarities.
Study: Militarization of police does not reduce crime
A new look at existing data by LSU researchers refutes the Trump administration's claims.
Study suggests most “dark web” users are not engaging in illicit activities
A new study finds that some people just want privacy.
Catching serial killers with an algorithm
This week, Big Think is partnering with Freethink to bring you amazing stories of the people and technologies that are shaping our future.
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6 min
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Three philosophies of punishment and whether or not they work
What do we want to do with convicted criminals? Penology has several philosophies waiting to answer that question.
Study: Private prisons result in more inmates, longer sentences
The Labour Economics study suggests two potential reasons for the increase: corruption and increased capacity.
Water heist: Up to half of the world’s supply is being stolen, study finds
A new study examines the under-researched area of water theft around the world.
What did Hannah Arendt really mean by the banality of evil?
The banality-of-evil thesis was a flashpoint for controversy.
Inside the brains of psychopaths
Three scientists examine three dimensions of psychopathy: neurological, social, and criminal.
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12 min
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An expert explains what ‘Abolish the Police’ really means
It turns out big ideas don't always fit in sign-sized slogans.
Algorithms associating appearance and criminality have a dark past
We'd like to think that judging people's worth based on the shape of their head is a practice that's behind us.
We spoke to hundreds of prison gang members – here’s what they said about life behind bars
Over 800 prisoners in Texas relate their experiences.
What elements make up our idea of justice?
In classical liberalism, justice leaves society better off by providing a chance for a better life.
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9 min
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Sexual harassment: Organizations must stop protecting ‘brilliant jerks’
More rules is not what's going to stop sexual harassment at work, says Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. Change the culture.
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5 min
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7 philosophers who were exiled from their societies
Being ahead of the curve can be a dangerous place. These 7 thinkers were driven from their homelands over it.
Algorithms identify repeat offenders better than judges
Can AI make better predictions about future crimes?
Hackers hit New Orleans city government website — are other cities at risk?
No harm done this time, but it's an ominous occurrence.
Billions of fake accounts: Who’s messaging you on Facebook?
The social media company's recent transparency report claimed that it had taken down a staggering number of fake accounts — but it's unlikely they're catching them all.
Imprisonment: Doctor who illegally prescribed 500,000 doses of opioids to serve 40 years
Dr. Joel Smithers was recently sentenced to decades in prison for the numerous illegal prescriptions he gave out.