Best 11 Chicago Crime Podcasts

The Chicago Justice Podcast challenges the stories we're told about crime, public safety, and justice. Instead of accepting headlines, political talking points, or conventional wisdom at face value, we dig deeper to uncover what the data, research, and lived experiences actually reveal. Each episode features candid conversations with journalists, researchers, advocates, policymakers, and people working to transform the justice system from within. Together, we examine the policies, institutions, and power structures that shape who is criminalized, who is protected, and who is left behind. From policing and police accountability to gun violence, surveillance, incarceration, public records, government transparency, and criminal justice reform, we explore the complex issues driving today's debates about safety and justice. Some conversations are uncomfortable. Others are infuriating. All of them are necessary. Grounded in evidence, accountability, and a commitment to challenging dominant narratives, The Chicago Justice Podcast goes beyond sound bites to expose how systems really work and whose interests they serve. If you're ready to question assumptions, confront hard truths, and explore what real justice and public safety could look like, this podcast is for you . more

Born in the heart of Chicago, Light Has Dawned brings you raw, honest stories of transformation from people who have walked through real darkness and encountered the hope of Jesus Christ. Former gang members, ex-inmates, survivors of trauma, police officers, chaplains, ministry leaders, and community voices share their stories of struggle, faith, redemption, and purpose. These conversations carry the grit of Chicago's streets and the grace of a God who still saves, heals, restores, and transforms lives. Every episode is honest, personal, and rooted in the truth that no life is beyond the reach of God's redemption. Our name is inspired by Matthew 4:16 (NKJV): 'The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.' Real people. Real stories. Real redemption. Light Has Dawned. more

Stories from history of the Greatest City in the World - Chicago. The places, events, and the people behind it all. more

An exploration of how Chicago has created some of the most notorious serial killers and murders in America. Unpacking the 'socio' in 'sociopath,' Jonathan Sanchez Leos and Meridith Halsey investigate how the ecological urban landscape of Chicago provided the perfect background for some of the most heinous crimes ever. more

Deals with the impact of the criminal justice system from the view point of those that were incarcerated.I want you to just take a second and try to imagine sitting behind a prison wall for two, three, and four decades for crimes you did not commit based off of police torture under John Burge. This happen in the city of Chicago in which over 200 African American and Latino men were taken to area 2 and 3 violent crime units, tortured in their g******s, testicles, being beat with police clubs, telephone books, having plastic bags and typewriter covers and etc., more

Night Beat is a radio drama series that aired from 1950 to 1952. The show followed the adventures of a Chicago newspaper reporter named Randy Stone, who would wander the city streets at night in search of stories to write. The series was notable for its atmospheric sound effects, jazz-influenced musical score, and the evocative voice of its star, Frank Lovejoy.Each episode of Night Beat found Randy Stone encountering a new and different character, often someone on the fringes of society: an old blues singer, a street preacher, a down-and-out boxer, a carnival barker. Stone would become involved in their lives, often helping them to solve a problem or right a wrong, all while trying to capture the essence of their stories for his newspaper readers.The show was praised for its realistic portrayal of city life, with its dark alleys, seedy bars, and shadowy figures. It was also known for its strong writing, which often dealt with social issues of the time, such as racism, poverty, and corruption. Despite its relatively short run, Night Beat has remained a beloved and influential radio drama series, inspiring later shows like The Twilight Zone and The X-Files.These episodes have been digitally remastered and are presented by SolvedMystery.comFor more information about this and other old time radio programs please visit: https://www.solvedmystery.com ( https://www.solvedmystery.com/ ). more

Attacking Jussie: The Osundairo Brothers Story is a six-part series featuring EXCLUSIVE, in-depth interviews with Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo. Hosted by journalist Charlie Webster.On January 29, 2019, actor and singer Jussie Smollett reported to the Chicago Police that he had been the victim of a hate crime. According to Smollett, two so-called white supremacists attacked him while he was walking to his apartment in the affluent neighborhood of Streeterville, where he lived while working on the FOX series Empire. Smollett reported the assailants spewed racist and homophobic slurs while beating him, pouring bleach over him, and tying a noose around his neck.  A police investigation concluded the two attackers were Ola and Bola Osundairo, Chicago-born brothers of Nigerian descent who had worked with Jussie on the set of Empire and befriended him. The Osundairo brothers claimed the attack was a premeditated hoax Jussie orchestrated to garner public attention and sympathy. The attack and subsequent trial became a media sensation, touching on the complex issues of race, LGBTQ+ rights, and politics in an increasingly polarized America. The Osundairo Brothers share their perspective and more, revealing the shocking truth of their involvement in the hoax and how it altered their lives forever.  Attacking Jussie: The Osundairo Brothers Story is Lionsgate Sound's companion podcast to the Pilgrim Media Group produced documentary Jussie Smollet: The Anatomy of a Hoax, streaming now on FOX Nation.Series artwork by Pat Leonard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Former reformed Chicago mobster (allegedly for entertainment purposes) talks about life, past crimes, Chicago culture, mob culture and generally tries to help save the lost kids of the internet. Mr. V streams on Reddit under the account LibbyNator if his dopey computer guy Vinchenzo doesn't mess up his setup. If he offends you, Mr. V will send a personal video apology if he feels it's legit.God bless the nuns of Sacred Heart Convent, god bless the Bears, and God bless all you kids who should stay off the internet and read a book instead. Above all, Mr. V says don't be like him. All the money, the dames, the parties, the cars, the drugs and booze cannot compare to the beautiful soul you have inside you. more

Chicago, weighing in at 2.7 million souls, punches above its weight as a world-renowned city of Arts and Culture, Industry, Finance, Retail, Education, Architecture, Transportation, Politics, Healthcare, Science, Innovation, Dining, Tourism, Sports, and more. It is also notorious for over a century of violence, crime, and political irregularities. Add to that decades of generally low performance within the Chicago Public Schools, the persistent scourge of a drug culture and broken families, plus Covid-19's recent rampage across all sectors of society, and quickly our fair city teeters on the brink of chaos and failure. 'Fixing Chicago' seeks real-city examples of to how to achieve peace, restore vitality, and reinvent ourselves to lead the world once more into and through the 21st century. more

What started as research for a movie resulted in these recordings. This is the life story of Bob Cooley, a man who accomplished the impossible by decapitating Al Capone's syndicate. In the 1970's Bob Cooley was a young cop who decided to became a lawyer, and ultimately found himself being an insider for the Chicago syndicate. The mob controlled the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois. This multipart conversation details the inner workings of the notorious Chicago crime syndicate called the Outfit. From politicians on the take to a corrupt court system and cold case murders, we cover it all. There are also never before revealed details about cult icon Count Dante and mob fixture Pat Marcy. If you're intrigued by organized crime, political corruption, and other matters of deceit this story for you. more

A struggling Chicago hospital did just about anything to admit patients. During the '90s and 2000s, Edgewater Hospital performed hundreds of unnecessary heart surgeries on patients just to pad its bottom line. Multiple patients died. Hear what lengths the government went in order to stop the fraud and why many believe the owner got away with it. Former employees, patients, investigators, and urban explorers recount the tangled history of what happened within the walls of Chicago's Edgewater Hospital. more