A Pathway to Exoneration
We explore what factors feed into these wrongful convictions and how advocates in the arena are fighting for justice.
Criminal Justice and Courts Sub-categories:
- Fraud and Identity Theft (10)
- Incarceration (16)
- Mass Incarceration (4)
Giving Birth Behind Bars
Dr. Carolyn Sufrinjoins us this week to talk about the challenges pregnant prisoners face and what needs to change to make the prison system more humane, compassionate, and rehabilitation-focused for women in this situation.
When the Guilty Are Marked As Innocent
Why do we believe one person but believe another is lying? This week, author Sarah Weinman joins us as we discuss the story of one American man in the 1950’s who was able to dupe millions and get released from prison.
Finding Employment After Incarceration
In the U.S., there are roughly 19 million people with felony convictions. For this population, finding stable work can be a tumultuous and draining process. Without a job, it can be all too easy to slide back into a past life and end up behind bars once again.
The Mental Health Effects of Solitary Confinement & Imprisonment
The United States still has the highest number of inmates in the world, with more than 2 million people behind bars. For a segment of this population, spending weeks, months, or even years in solitary confinement is very much a reality. We speak with two criminal justice experts about the lasting effects of solitary confinement and the mental health crisis …
Culture Crash: Artists’ Shared Inspiration
How do artists find inspiration for a new song on an album, or a new idea for a movie? We discuss how great art is more interconnected than you may think.
Long-Term Youth Incarceration
The U.S. prison population has decreased during the pandemic, but the number of people behind bars is still close to two million. Some of these inmates have been in prison for decades and at a young age were deemed by the justice system to be ‘unfixable’. This week, we shed light on the cycle of youth incarceration in this country and why people like Ian …
Entrepreneurship in the Adult-Use Cannabis Market
New York is the latest to legalize recreational marijuana, creating thousands of new jobs and is expected to generate billions of dollars in revenue after a lackluster year for the state in tourism, real estate and business. But in a fast-growing industry, how do you make sure that smaller entrepreneurs aren’t left behind? Or those who’ve been systemically …
The Birth of Criminal Science in the U.S.
Today, the field of forensic science is one of the most important tools that investigators have in cracking a case. From forensic geology to DNA analysis to ballistics, analyzing the science behind each crime is crucial. To better understand its beginnings, we go back to the twentieth century to shed a light on Edward Oscar Heinrich – an innovative man who …
The Sketch That Solves the Crime
How exactly does a forensic sketch artist create such a detailed and accurate profile based off a single, hour-long witness interview? Lois Gibson, a longtime police sketch artist in Houston, joins Viewpoints this week.
The Law of Treason: Its Modern Use
We speak with constitutional law expert, Professor Carlton Larson about its limited use in modern courtrooms and the public’s perception of the law versus its actual scope and definition.
Surviving Parkland: The Perspective of One Teacher
The 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida was the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history. Viewpoints speaks with high school teacher Jeff Foster who was there that day and is still an active voice in ending gun violence.
White Collar Crime: The Players & Its Economic Consequences
Each year, white collar crime results in losses that range between 300 and 800 billion dollars. Comparatively, other street-level crimes only total 16 billion dollars. We explore the prevalence of white-collar crime in our country and the systems that allow this corruption to flourish.
Culture Crash: Revisiting the German Netflix Series, “Dark”
Seasons one, two and three of “Dark” are now streaming on Netflix. The highly rated show has an intricate plot that’s sometimes hard to follow but it's ultimately worth the watch.
Rehabilitation While in Prison: Getting to the Root of the Problem
Each year, prisons cost taxpayers 80 billion dollars. But with two thirds of those incarcerated returning back behind bars within a few years, clearly something within the system is broken.
Murder on the Herbert Fuller
Just a week into the journey, three people aboard were murdered and there were multiple suspects. The murder trial that follows is historic and helped shape modern law today.
The Holocaust: Surviving the German Occupation of the Netherlands
Arguably, the most famous voice from that region is Anne Frank – the young teenage girl who wrote of her daily life in hiding until she was discovered in 1944 and died in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. While Anne Frank is a prominent voice, there are many other stories of those who hid out for years, evading capture and awaiting freedom.
Dot Con: Pranking the Authors of Spam Emails
Author and comedian, James Veitch has made a name for himself by replying to these scams and continuing the conversation, effectively wasting the scammers time as much as they waste ours. We speak with him about his trade and the major telltale signs to look out for in a scam.
The Murder of George Floyd: A Deepening Public Health Crisis
How can a simple police call lead to the killing of an unarmed and unresisting man? For weeks, protests and outrage have spread across the U.S. and internationally as the killing of Floyd brings racial inequality and police brutality into focus once again. Even in the midst of a pandemic, people are showing up to say they’re fed up with the lack of equal …
Body-Worn Cameras: Is Fast-Changing Tech Leading to Better Policing?
Today, body-worn cameras are a mainstay in many police departments across the country. While the new technology increases transparency, is it leading to better relationships between the public and police? How are innovations in the field - including the incorporation of artificial intelligence - changing officers’ day-to-day duties?
Culture Crash: Netflix Miniseries Based on True Stories
We delve into two great true crime miniseries, “When They See Us” and “Unbelievable” that are now streaming on Netflix. The two shows take a deeper look into past crimes to uncover how the justice system failed the people behind these stories.
A Life Undone: Falling Victim to Identity Theft
What would it be like to feel crippled by identity theft for most of your young adult life? Axton Betz-Hamilton shares her surprising identity theft story and how she’s now helping others in a similar boat.
Culture Crash: Joaquin Phoenix’s “Joker”
Directed by Todd Phillips, the newest installment in the “Joker” franchise was released earlier this month to mixed reviews. We cover the evolution of the classic villain and how this movie portrays a different side of the character and society itself.
Culture Crash: Unlocking The Popularity of Netflix’s Mindhunter
The Netflix original Mindhunter is finally back for season two, and to celebrate its return we talk about what sets this true crime and thriller series apart from all of the others.