political delegitimization

Political Delegitimization and the Threat to Democracy

The violent threats made by Brandon Griesemer reflect a deeper issue—political delegitimization. This article explores how undermining opponents’ legitimacy erodes democratic institutions. Drawing on insights from How Democracies Die, it highlights the urgent need to defend tolerance, facts, and the rule of law before it’s too late.
  • Published in Law
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Equifax data breach

How the Equifax Data Breach Exposed Millions

The Equifax data breach compromised the personal data of over 145 million Americans. This blog examines how the breach occurred, the risks of unencrypted information, and the failure of regulatory safeguards. It also provides practical steps for protecting your identity, including freezing credit and monitoring financial records.
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smartphone tracking

The Spy in Your Pocket: Smartphone Tracking and Data Privacy

Your smartphone is silently tracking your every move. Whether you use Android or iPhone, your data is collected, analyzed, and shared—often without your knowledge. This blog explores how smartphone tracking works, its risks to your privacy, and steps you can take to protect your personal information and digital security.
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Specimen Collection Practices

Ensuring Accurate Specimen Collection: Key Practices for Justice Programs: Part 3

Part three of The Nuts and Bolts of Drug Testing focuses on specimen collection practices. Discover best practices for participant identification, secure collection sites, chain of custody, and witnessed collections to ensure accurate and reliable test results. Proper procedures are vital for maintaining integrity in justice programs and preventing test subversion.
Carpenter v. United States privacy

Why Carpenter v. United States Matters for Your Privacy

The Supreme Court case Carpenter v. United States centers on the government’s access to cell phone location data without a warrant. While the defendant was guilty of serious crimes, the legal implications extend to every American's privacy. Learn how this decision shapes digital surveillance and your rights in the information age.
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Treatment Court Best Practices

Treatment Court Best Practices: Comprehensive Drug Testing: Part 2

Part two of The Nuts and Bolts of Drug Testing delves into the best practices for effective testing in treatment courts. Discover how frequent, random, long-term, and comprehensive testing supports participant success, reduces recidivism, and enhances program integrity. Learn why testing is a cornerstone of treatment court best practices.
veterans treatment courts

Veterans Treatment Courts: A Special Court to Deal Effectively with Convicted Veterans

Veterans treatment courts offer a second chance to veterans like Joe, who return from combat with PTSD and trauma. This blog explains how these courts connect justice-involved veterans to treatment, accountability, and peer support—ultimately saving lives and reducing incarceration. The results are remarkable, and the need is urgent.
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right to counsel at arraignment

Oakland County Lawsuit Highlights Right to Counsel Crisis

Oakland County is suing Michigan over who should pay to uphold the right to counsel at arraignment. The lawsuit highlights a critical justice issue: without early legal representation, poor defendants face jail and high costs. The proposed standards could cut jail expenses—but local governments want the state to foot the bill.
  • Published in Law
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Airline passenger rights

Airline Passenger Rights: What Contracts Reveal About Customer Treatment

When my partners and I created the Justice Speakers Institute, the main goal was to work to improve justice throughout the world but, admittedly, I also wanted the opportunity to travel.  As a result, I purchase a lot of airline tickets flying from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, a Delta hub. I have had my share of
  • Published in Law
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Why democracy matters

Why Democracy Matters: Lessons from Flint’s Water Crisis

The number of people claiming that the American governmental system is broken and that it is impossible to fix is growing. Anti-democratic rhetoric is now common. On Twitter, Facebook and other social media, people routinely claim that our founders created a republic, not a democracy, while others express support for rolling back democratic election reforms.
  • Published in Law
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