clutch. is a restorative justice-focused team comprised of investigative journalists and incarceration-impacted experts working to expose corruption in the criminal justice system and beyond. We embrace a humanist perspective and believe in justice for all.
The disciplinary case against Kirsten Nielsen Hartig, a judge of Michigan’s 52-4 District Court, has entered a decisive phase. According to…
On paper, Family court is supposed to resolve disputes involving children with urgency, clarity, and evidence. But in practice, some…
The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board has issued a reprimand to Michael J. Szappan (P68107) of Flushing, Michigan, effective October 7, 2025, following a consent resolution of professional…
Mass incarceration in the United States is often framed as the result of crime trends, public fear, or political ideology….
How an Ethics Probe in the Crumbley Case Exposes the Limits of Prosecutorial Accountability in Michigan Michigan has no shortage…
In Michigan, a decision to decline criminal charges is often treated as final. But for victims, particularly when the accused…
The Michigan Attorney Discipline Board has ordered a one-year suspension of Amy Lillian Colston (P64742) of Kalamazoo, Michigan, effective October 25, 2025, based on reciprocal discipline stemming…
People like to talk about justice as if it starts in a courtroom. It really doesn’t. Justice starts so much…
In many jails and prisons, ramen is not just food. It is currency, comfort, routine, and one of the few…
Oakland County Probate Judge Kathleen A. Ryan, who had served on the bench for more than 13 years, has officially retired…
