Part I: Interview with Police Commissioner Bealefeld

Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III, in December 2008. [AP Photo/Rob Carr]This week, Baltimore police released good news from the often dismal crime-fighting scene: Total crime in the city is down by... More

Beware of crime while holiday shopping

Associated PressShopping during the holidays can squeeze joy out of the season as you deal with a crush of bodies in the mall or navigate Web sites that promise fabulous deals. Here are simple tips can help keep your holidays festive and crime-free. More  Read More →

Watching, and being watched

Beginning Friday, passengers will be checked at random at MARC train stations. [Photo: Maximilian Franz/The Daily Record] In Maryland, crime keeps us watching and being watched. This... More

Police find lessons by going online

The Waukegan Citizen Police Academy in Waukegan, Ill., offers free training for the public, but some forces... More

Cops: Woman fried, ate goldfish amid fight with ex

PASADENA, Texas — Authorities say a Houston-area woman who was burned up at her former common-law husband fried their pet goldfish and ate some of them. More  Read More →

Nailed! Pointed NY grudges lead to guilty plea

HAVERSTRAW, N.Y. (AP) — A man with grudges against four people has pleaded guilty to repeatedly dumping roofing nails in their suburban New York driveways. Michael Delisio pleaded guilty in Haverstraw (HAV’-er-straw) Town Court to six counts of third-degree criminal tampering, a misdemeanor. Police say he planted the clusters of nails in driveways and streets beginning in 2006. Authorities got over 40 complaints from the victims. Justice John Grant has recommended probation, including work... More

Keeping arbitration fair for consumers

Sometimes the small print will cost you. Few people bother to read the consumer agreements delivered with their cell phones, bank statements and credit card bills, but that fine print has triggered a nationwide legal battle over consumer rights. More  Read More →

State’s public defenders must do more with less

They work 40 cases in a day, slog through a slew of consecutive 90-hour weeks and still face a never-ending list of new clients. The lives of public defenders are not glamorous. Long known for being overworked and underfunded, public defenders are required by the U.S. Constitution to represent indigent... More

Salvia: Hallucinogenic drug is legal here — so far

Maryland officials are renewing efforts to outlaw the sale of a hallucinogenic herb called Salvia divinorum, or Magic Mint, sold over the counter from T-shirt shops in Ocean City to head shops in Baltimore and beyond. More  Read More →

Vindicated by video

Do you worry about the sprouting of surveillance cameras wherever you go? Some are thankful for it – and not just those doing the watching. More  Read More →

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