Michigan AG, OIG Offices Target Poverty Instead of Real Fraud: The Bridge Card Baked Goods Case
In Saginaw, Michigan, a 32-year-old woman now faces felony charges for allegedly using her Bridge Card (the state’s SNAP benefit…
Rita Williams
Rita Williams is a Michigan-based judicial oversight analyst and founder of Clutch Justice, an investigative platform focused on court system accountability, sentencing integrity, and SCAO policy. Her work examines how courts, policies, and administrative systems operate in practice, with a focus on where process breaks down and harm is created. Drawing on lived experience and systems-level analysis, she writes to make legal structures more readable, expose institutional gaps, and advocate for reforms grounded in both evidence and human impact. Rita’s writing bridges legal analysis, institutional critique, and public education, with a consistent focus on accountability without losing sight of the people most affected by the justice system.
Follow the Money: How to Use TransparencyUSA to Spot Dirty Politicians
We’ve all heard the saying: “Show me your budget and I’ll show you your values.” Well, when it comes to…
Chris Becker, PAAM, and Kent County’s Abuse of Michigan’s Speedy Trial Rights
The Constitution guarantees every person accused of a crime the right to a “speedy trial.” In Michigan, that promise is…
6 Criminal Justice System Myths: The Misunderstood Reality of America’s System
The criminal justice system in the United States is often viewed through the dramatized lens of popular media and a…
Barry County’s Jail Board Is a Massive Conflict of Interest
The Barry County Board of Commissioners has officially unveiled its Jail Stakeholders Committee. Stakeholders, of course, meaning judges, prosecutors, cops, consultants, and…
An Attorney Is Only as Good as the Judge They’re Working With
The Bottom Line A skilled attorney in a fair courtroom can make an enormous difference. A skilled attorney in front…
Clutch Q&A: Tyler Boyd on The Last Mile, Reentry, and Second Chances
When it comes to criminal justice reform, few voices carry the weight of lived experience combined with professional leadership like Tyler…
Clutch Q&A: Dr. Aaron T. Kinzel, From Prison to Professor
The Bottom Line Dr. Aaron T. Kinzel served more than a decade in prison. He is now a University of…
You Don’t Need a PhD in Data to Hold Courts Accountable. You Just Need to Show Up.
Nearly 800 court sessions in Kalamazoo County have been observed under a grant-funded pilot program but organizers say it’s still…
Caring for Ourselves as Political Warfare: Reflections from Essie Justice Group’s Healing to Advocacy Cohort
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” — Audre Lorde…
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