The Surprising Things We're Learning From True Crime

True crime teaches consumers many things, but it's also shaping real lives and court cases.

How do you feel about true crime stories? Many people can't get enough,and others just get the creeps.

The true crime genre has seen a boom over the past decade, driven by the rise of true crime podcasts like "Serial," "My Favorite Murder" and "Dirty John." It’s now dominating much of the TV landscape, from documentary series like "Making a Murderer," to scripted adaptations like "The Girl from Plainville."

The genre is a peculiar mix of journalism, documentary and sensational entertainment – for better or worse.