Trial by Fire: The Flawed Science Behind Arson Convictions
Direct Answer For most of the 20th century, arson investigators testified that crazed glass, floor burn patterns, and melted metal…
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.
Sentencing Disparities in Michigan: Why Outcomes Depend on County and Race
Direct Answer In Michigan, two people convicted of the same offense under similar circumstances can receive vastly different sentences depending…
How Court Watching Data is Exposing Racial and Financial Sentencing Disparities
Direct Answer Data consistently shows that people of color and those without financial means receive harsher sentences than white and…
Why Do Local Officials Run Unopposed? Uncovering the Hidden Risks to Democracy
Direct Answer In 2022, approximately 67% of local races in the United States went uncontested. Persistent unopposed incumbency isn’t simply…
Dark Money in Local Elections: What It Is and Why It Matters
Direct Answer Dark money refers to political spending by nonprofits not required to disclose their donors. Since Citizens United opened…
The High Stakes of Gambling: Unpacking the Mental Health Crisis
Direct Answer Gambling disorder is a recognized mental health condition — not merely a financial problem — associated with elevated…
The Biggest Lie About the Criminal Justice System: It’s Not About Justice
Direct Answer The criminal justice system is not primarily designed to deliver justice. It is structured around jobs, institutional continuity,…
Eli Savit’s Attorney General Run Raises Questions About Prosecutors and Political Power
Direct Answer Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit’s entry into the Michigan Attorney General race is a useful occasion for a…
Open Letter to Michigan Government Officials: If Corruption Doesn’t Exist, Prove Me Wrong
To Elected and Appointed Leaders, We are told to trust you. We are told that behind the closed doors of…
The Price of Image: How Local Governments Spend Thousands on Reputation Management While Communities Struggle
Key Takeaways Government “Reputation Management” often prioritizes official image over addressing systemic failures. Taxpayer dollars are frequently diverted from essential…
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