But Officer, I Have a Brain Tumor

Lately, the New York Times has been delving into the seedier side of criminal law. In 1995, the controversial Kansas v. Hendricks case was heard by the Supreme Court. They ruled that keeping sex offenders in "civil commitment facilities" beyond their sentences did not violate due process. Since then, an increasing number of states have passed laws allowing this confinement. The Times' recent series features an interview with the plaintiff from the original case, as well as other sex offenders confined in these facilities.

The Times also featured an article on neurolaw, a relatively new topic that deals with the admittance of brain abnormalities, such as tumors and trauma, as evidence in criminal trials. The article provides a good overview of the topic, as does the author's NPR interview.