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3 - Investigations / 4 - Cases / California / California Watch / California's Broken Public Defense System / Criminal / Family Court / Family Court Reform / The Reyna Files

The Criminalist and the Coerced Plea

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Former criminalist Rhonda Reyna once testified for prosecutors in homicide cases. Years later, she says the same justice system ignored exculpatory evidence, pushed her into a no contest plea, and helped separate her from her daughter. Part one of Riptide’s investigation into California’s broken public defense system.

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3 - Investigations / 4 - Cases / Child Abuse / Child Custody / Child Custody / Child Welfare / Court Corruption / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Government Corruption / Institutions / Legal Reform / New York / New York Watch / The Fishman Files

They’re Adults Now. He Still Can’t Call Them.

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

Marc Fishman’s children are no longer caught in a custody battle — they’re adults. And yet the silence remains. His case exposes a reality rarely discussed: when parental alienation succeeds, it doesn’t end. It becomes permanent.

They’re Adults Now. He Still Can’t Call Them. Read More
Baltimore City / Child Custody / Child Welfare / Family Court / Family Court Reform / Foster Care / Government Reform / Maryland

Government Failure at Its Worst: How Maryland’s Foster System Left a 16-Year-Old Girl to Die in a Hotel Room

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

On September 22, 2025, 16-year-old Kanaiyah Ward was found dead in a hotel, with suspected overdose linked to systemic failures in Maryland’s foster care system. Placed in inadequate hotel care, she was overlooked despite being classified “high risk.” This tragedy exposes the negligence inherent in a bureaucratic approach to child welfare.

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Ada Accommodations / Beyond Barriers and Disability Rights / California / California Watch / Civil Rights / Disability / Disability Rights / Disability Rights / Discrimination / Domestic Violence / Family Court / Misconduct / Rights and Freedoms / San Marcos Abduction Attempt

They Locked Her Down, Then Shut Her Up: How San Diego Jails Punish Disabled Survivors

- by Michael Phillips - 2 Comments.

Giselle Smiel, a survivor of domestic violence, faced significant barriers to ADA Title II accommodations during her detention. Despite multiple requests, she lacked effective communication supports and experienced retaliation. The case highlights systemic failures in recognizing invisible disabilities and ensuring compliance, ultimately underscoring the need for accountability in custody settings.

They Locked Her Down, Then Shut Her Up: How San Diego Jails Punish Disabled Survivors Read More
Accountability / Crime & Violence / Crime Violence / Criminal / Government / Government / Law Enforcement / Policy / Politics

When “Protect and Serve” Fails: The Alarming Case of Frederick Officer James Dodson

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

When a police officer uses department-issued devices to allegedly solicit minors and possess child sexual abuse material, the failure isn’t just personal—it’s institutional. The case of Frederick Police Corporal James Dodson exposes a disturbing truth: Maryland’s system too often protects the uniform over the innocent. Taxpayers footed the bill for his paycheck even as the investigation unfolded, revealing just how deeply broken our public accountability systems have become.

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Alabama / Child Custody / Child Custody / Child Protective Services / Corruption / Court Corruption / Crime & Violence / Crime Violence / Criminal / Family Court / Family Court Reform / The Corruption Series

A Preventable Tragedy: Kyla Jean’s Death and the Dangers of a Bureaucracy-First, Family-Last Child Welfare System

- by Michael Phillips - Leave a Comment

A four-month-old baby is dead, a father stands accused of murder, and Alabama’s child welfare system is under fire. Kyla Jean’s tragic death reveals the devastating consequences of a government-first, family-last approach—where bureaucracy, not common sense, decides who gets to raise a child.

A Preventable Tragedy: Kyla Jean’s Death and the Dangers of a Bureaucracy-First, Family-Last Child Welfare System Read More