Horrifying but true
April 9, 2012 2:43 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for true crime longform articles online; preferably not behind paywalls. I've read just about everything in the crime category of longform.org. I also like "man released after proven innocent" and "real life in prison" stories. I'm all hooked up with Instapaper, Readability and a Kindle. And a nightlight.
Here's an example of one of my favorite articles. This question is pretty much the opposite of this, except with articles instead of books. No fiction, thanks.
Here's an example of one of my favorite articles. This question is pretty much the opposite of this, except with articles instead of books. No fiction, thanks.
Longreads is similar to Longform and they seem to have a decent selection of stuff in the archive tagged with 'crime'
posted by jquinby at 2:47 PM on April 9, 2012
posted by jquinby at 2:47 PM on April 9, 2012
I don't know if this is really what you're asking for, but Wikipedia meets exactly this need for me. Check out lists (like this and this) and catagories (like this).
This is my favorite AskMeFi in a long time.
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 2:57 PM on April 9, 2012
This is my favorite AskMeFi in a long time.
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 2:57 PM on April 9, 2012
It isn't text, but Vanguard of CurrentTV has a lot of awesome longform journalism, much of which relates to crime. Here are some examples:
Prison Power Play (43:29)
Laura Ling reports on the complex power plays taking place at Corcoran, one of the country's most notorious prisons
Getting Out of Prison (49:32)
Vanguard follows several young inmates out of prison and into the often losing battle to keep from going back in.
Narco War Next Door (51:37)
A groundbreaking investigation into the massive amount of violence in Juarez, Mexico caused by drug cartels
The Oxycontin Express (47:09)
An investigation into prescription drug abuse in America, winner of 2009 Peabody Award.
Cocaine Mafia (20:58)
Christof Putzel investigates how Europe's growing appetite for cocaine is funding the growth of West African crime syndicates and fueling a turf war with the Camorra.
Marijuana Wars Part 1, Mexican drug trafficking organizations growing marijuana in the US
Marijuana Wars Part 2, Taking down low-level planters and high-level financers
In this two-part episode, executive producer and correspondent Adam Yamaguchi embeds with a task force working to take down Mexican drug trafficking organizations operating in the U.S. California has become one of the leading producers of marijuana in the world, and the proceeds from marijuana have become a cash cow for traffickers, generating greater profits than cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin combined. The task force surveys and eradicates multi-million dollar marijuana fields in the U.S. run by Mexican drug trafficking organizations - including grow sites in state and national parks.
I made two large posts linking to everything in Seasons 1-3 and 4
posted by Blasdelb at 3:08 PM on April 9, 2012 [1 favorite]
Prison Power Play (43:29)
Laura Ling reports on the complex power plays taking place at Corcoran, one of the country's most notorious prisons
Getting Out of Prison (49:32)
Vanguard follows several young inmates out of prison and into the often losing battle to keep from going back in.
Narco War Next Door (51:37)
A groundbreaking investigation into the massive amount of violence in Juarez, Mexico caused by drug cartels
The Oxycontin Express (47:09)
An investigation into prescription drug abuse in America, winner of 2009 Peabody Award.
Cocaine Mafia (20:58)
Christof Putzel investigates how Europe's growing appetite for cocaine is funding the growth of West African crime syndicates and fueling a turf war with the Camorra.
Marijuana Wars Part 1, Mexican drug trafficking organizations growing marijuana in the US
Marijuana Wars Part 2, Taking down low-level planters and high-level financers
In this two-part episode, executive producer and correspondent Adam Yamaguchi embeds with a task force working to take down Mexican drug trafficking organizations operating in the U.S. California has become one of the leading producers of marijuana in the world, and the proceeds from marijuana have become a cash cow for traffickers, generating greater profits than cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin combined. The task force surveys and eradicates multi-million dollar marijuana fields in the U.S. run by Mexican drug trafficking organizations - including grow sites in state and national parks.
I made two large posts linking to everything in Seasons 1-3 and 4
posted by Blasdelb at 3:08 PM on April 9, 2012 [1 favorite]
Wow. I LOVE crime stories! I see you've discovered the great crime stories at Texas Monthly (here's the crime section). If you don't already, pay special attention to anything by Skip Hollandsworth.
Also, look for the Best American Crime Reporting anthologies that are published every year. (Mefi thread for 2010, 2009 and earlier (dances_with_sneeches ftw!).
Here are the crime stories listed at The Browser.
Here is the list at The Feature (formerly Give Me Something To Read).
Here is the list at Longreads.
This is one of my favorite things to read about and I can't remember the multitudes of articles I've read over the years but I'll have a think about it and if anything stands out I'll come back and link it.
Great question!
posted by triggerfinger at 5:27 PM on April 9, 2012 [2 favorites]
Also, look for the Best American Crime Reporting anthologies that are published every year. (Mefi thread for 2010, 2009 and earlier (dances_with_sneeches ftw!).
Here are the crime stories listed at The Browser.
Here is the list at The Feature (formerly Give Me Something To Read).
Here is the list at Longreads.
This is one of my favorite things to read about and I can't remember the multitudes of articles I've read over the years but I'll have a think about it and if anything stands out I'll come back and link it.
Great question!
posted by triggerfinger at 5:27 PM on April 9, 2012 [2 favorites]
One of my favorite New Yorker articles of all time is fully online:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/08/11/080811fa_fact_grann
Here are all of the New Yorker articles tagged with "crime," though the ones with little blue locks next to them require a subscription:
http://www.newyorker.com/search/query?sort=publishdate+desc%2c+score+desc&keyword=Crime+0044++Criminals&query=&rows=10&
posted by theuninvitedguest at 6:41 PM on April 9, 2012 [2 favorites]
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/08/11/080811fa_fact_grann
Here are all of the New Yorker articles tagged with "crime," though the ones with little blue locks next to them require a subscription:
http://www.newyorker.com/search/query?sort=publishdate+desc%2c+score+desc&keyword=Crime+0044++Criminals&query=&rows=10&
posted by theuninvitedguest at 6:41 PM on April 9, 2012 [2 favorites]
We've covered this on Metafilter before, but the Indiana torture/slaying of Sylvia Likens is absolutely true. It happened in my neighborhood when I was about 11.
posted by pjern at 1:56 AM on April 10, 2012
posted by pjern at 1:56 AM on April 10, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by desjardins at 2:44 PM on April 9, 2012