The notoriously tough maximum security Sing Sing Prison in New York State is a forbidding place, not where you would expect to find a program offering an accredited master’s degree in professional studies in religion. The course is sponsored by the New York Theological Seminary, and it’s been at Sing Sing for a quarter of a century. More →

January 8, 2009

The practice of “familial searching” is causing a conflict between solving crimes and protecting privacy. Police can now take DNA from a crime scene and compare it to millions of DNA samples in a government database. If there is even a partial match, that could lead to the criminal by way of his or her family members if their DNA is in the database. More →

May 16, 2008

BOB ABERNETHY, anchor: Around the U.S., there are more than a million warrants out for the arrest of people who’ve been accused of an offense, often minor, but who have not paid their fines or shown up in court. We … More →

October 5, 2007

A story about a former state legislator who believed the answer to crime was more and more prisons — until he got locked up himself. Now he’s leading a faith-based program for prisoner rehabilitation, and he says it works. More →

September 21, 2007

In the 1970’s, Evangelical Pastor Wayne Gordon moved into a high-crime area of Chicago. Members of the community told him they wanted to start a church, so Gordon founded the Lawndale Community Church. More →

September 14, 2007

In many states around the country there are new, tough laws aimed at sexual predators who have abused children. No one opposes the intent to protect children, but in Georgia its new sex offender law is under attack by civil rights and religious activists who say the law is so broad and so harsh it is unfair. More →

January 26, 2007

Father Greg Boyle is giving former gang members a chance at a better future. More →

September 10, 2004

  KIM LAWTON, guest anchor: The arsenal of technology being used to fight crime has grown dramatically. One of the most powerful weapons is DNA evidence, which law enforcement officials can use to solve crimes that are years old. The … More →

May 28, 2004

One of the most difficult of all religious teachings is the importance of forgiving. Forgiveness is taught as something a person should do for God or for others. But, more and more, both religious and secular counselors are encouraging forgiveness … More →

May 18, 2001

BOB ABERNETHY (anchor): Now another ethical question: Should a boy — even a boy who has murdered someone — be put into a prison with men? Advocates of mandatory sentencing caution that these kids must be taken off the street … More →

January 19, 2001