crime

Beliefs about how risky something is — from legalizing concealed handguns to allowing carbon pollution — are often shaped by deep cultural forces. The theory of “cultural cognition” suggests that individuals will interpret evidence, no matter how well supported by science, in ways that reinforce their connections to those with whom they share a worldview.

Spending on police personnel is one of the primary crime-control investments for both state and local governments. To assess the effectiveness of such investments, conducting a cost-benefit analysis is essential.

Research on crime in the developing world has shown that there are sizable implications for a nation’s GDP, and high levels of violent crime can significantly affect the poor and exacerbate inequality.

Officials in Norway are examining links between the perpetrator of the deadly twin attacks in that country on July 22, 2011, and the right-wing extremism that reportedly fueled his actions.

Over the past year the death penalty has again come into focus as a major public policy and political issue, catalyzed by several high-profile events.

Researchers have been increasingly focusing on the science behind interrogation techniques and confessions — and emerging criminal justice system data patterns — with the hope of better understanding how false confessions are produced and how to limit the chances innocent persons are imprisoned.