Shakespearean character to sort out crime (8)
I believe the answer is:
mercutio
'shakespearean character' is the definition.
(mercutio matches up with the definition shakespearean character)
'sort out crime' is the wordplay.
'sort' indicates an anagram.
'out'+'crime'='outcrime'
'outcrime' with letters rearranged gives 'MERCUTIO'.
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for mercutio that I've seen before include "Shakespeare role" , "Character killed in Romeo and Juliet" , "Omit cure (anag) - Romeo and Juliet character" , "Romeo's friend (R&J)" , "victim of feud" .)