America’s Modern Debtors’ Prisons: How Poverty Is Still Criminalized
Direct Answer The United States formally abolished debtors’ prisons in the 1830s. Today, a system of court fines, fees, cash…
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.
IGNITE Proves Jail Education Works: How a Michigan Program Is Reducing Misconduct and Recidivism
Direct Answer A peer-reviewed NBER study of the IGNITE program at Genesee County Jail in Flint, Michigan found a 25%…
5 Criminal Justice System Myths
Direct Answer The criminal justice system is not what television taught most people to expect. It is not designed to…
What is an Amicus Brief?
Direct Answer An amicus curiae brief — Latin for “friend of the court” — is a document filed in a…
MDOC Whistleblower Lawsuit Exposes Sexual Abuse, Retaliation, and Lack of Oversight
Direct Answer A former Michigan Department of Corrections employee has filed a federal lawsuit alleging sexual coercion by the department’s…
Why Better Data Is the Key to Accountable, Effective Prosecution
The future of fair, accountable, and effective prosecution lies in a surprising place: better data and way better decision-making. A white…
When “Economic Development” Means Displacement: Who Really Profits From Urban Growth
Direct Answer “Economic development” in most American cities operates through a closed-loop system connecting real estate developers, political leaders, and…
$2.50 to Jail: How America Criminalizes Poverty Through Low-Level Misdemeanors
Direct Answer A Portland, Oregon woman spent 183 days in custody — at a cost exceeding $26,000 to taxpayers —…
How to Court Watch as a Criminal Justice Reform Advocate
Direct Answer Court watching — community members attending and systematically documenting public court proceedings — is one of the most…
Small-Town Justice: How Judicial Bias Thrives in Rural Courts
Direct Answer In the American legal system, impartiality is a cornerstone principle — and research consistently shows that 97 percent…
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