Crime & Law

Former President Jimmy Carter does not receive federal retirement health benefits because he only worked for the government for four years, less than the five years needed to qualify June 1, 2019

Alcatraz's reputation as a tough as nails prison was a Hollywood myth. Many inmates requested transfer there on account of its good food and one man per cell policy. May 29, 2019

There is a Montana Law that if a student rides a horse to school, the principal has to feed, water, and tend the horse. Six seniors who were aware of this law rode their horses on the last day of school. Their principal did his duty and took care of their horses. May 25, 2019

In 1944, the British hatched a plan to assassinate Hitler - Operation Foxley. Many, including Churchill approved of the plan. It never went through though because Hitler was an awful military strategist, and there was fear that whoever replaced him would be more adept at winning the war. May 20, 2019

In the Liberian General Election (1927), there were 15,000 voters but the winner received 243,000 votes. It made it the Guinness Book of Records as the most fraudulent election reported in history. May 17, 2019

In 2014, an Arizona man escaped prison to meet with his girlfriend on Valentine's Day. The man crawled past razor wire, scaled two fences and made his way to a bar about 10 miles away. May 5, 2019

Canadians say sorry so much that a law had to be passed saying that apologies aren't admissions of guilt. May 1, 2019

Congressman Leo Ryan, who was murdered while investigating Jonestown in 1978, had a record of directly looking into his constituents' concerns. As an assemblyman, he investigated the conditions of California prisons in 1970 by using a pseudonym to enter Folsom Prison as an inmate. April 20, 2019

Two men from Indiana were wrongfully convicted in a 1996 armed robbery because of a false statement from an informant who had sex with the lead detective who set them up. 20 years later, they were found innocent and one of them received $4.9 Million settlement. April 18, 2019

In an attempt to enforce Prohibition, the Prohibition Bureau began adding poison to industrial alcohol to prevent its consumption, killing between 10,000 and 50,000 people. This was supported by people like Wayne Wheeler, who argued that the victims had committed suicide by breaking the law April 14, 2019

Indian law says there should be a polling place within 2 km (1.25) of each citizen, so authorities have to set up a polling station in a lion infested forest for ONE MAN April 12, 2019

Two inmates sued the state of Alabama, claiming the cramped space in their cell was a cruel and unusual punishment. The state argued that students at Auburn University actually paid to live in even smaller living space in the Magnolia Dorm. The inmates lost the case. April 9, 2019

An alcoholic court stenographer in Manhattan repeatedly typed I hate my job instead of documenting speech during cases April 5, 2019

"Shots to roughly 80 percent of targets on the body would not be fatal blows" and that "if a gunshot victim's heart is still beating upon arrival at a hospital, there is a 95 percent chance of survival" March 27, 2019

In Finland, speeding fines are linked to salary. The Finns run a "day fine" system that is calculated on the basis of an offender's daily disposable income - generally their daily salary divided by two. In 2002, Anssi Vanjoki, a former Nokia director, was ordered to pay a fine of US $103,600 March 23, 2019

In South Korea, only visually impaired people can be licensed masseurs, dating back over 100 years to a Japanese colonial law that was set up to guarantee the blind a livelihood. March 23, 2019

Actor Humphrey Bogart was an avid chess player, often playing on set between takes. During World War II, he played correspondence chess with members of the military posted overseas or in hospitals. The FBI intercepted this mail and thought he was sending secret codes to Europe. March 17, 2019

A Florida man was awarded $37,500 after cops mistook glazed donut crumbs for meth. Daniel Rushing was pulled over when the cops searched his car. They tested white crystals they found and it tested positive for meth. Rushing told them they were donut crumbs but they wouldn't listen. March 17, 2019

President William McKinley (who was assassinated) often wore a trademark good luck charm. It was a red carnation worn on his lapel. While meeting with the public a 12 year old girl asked him for the flower. He gave it to her and moments later was shot. March 16, 2019

A network of men and women working in the legal system have created something called "The Innocence Project" which to date has exonerated 364 innocent people serving sentences for violent crimes with punishments ranging from death to life without parole. March 13, 2019