diff --git a/client/src/components/ReadmeModal.jsx b/client/src/components/ReadmeModal.jsx
index edadd0a..8819b89 100644
--- a/client/src/components/ReadmeModal.jsx
+++ b/client/src/components/ReadmeModal.jsx
@@ -1,17 +1,16 @@
 import React, { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
 
-// ─── Minimal Markdown → HTML renderer ────────────────────────────────────────
+// Minimal Markdown to HTML renderer (headings, bold, inline-code, tables, hr, ul, ol, paragraphs)
 function mdToHtml(md) {
   const lines = md.split('\n');
   const out   = [];
   let i = 0, inUl = false, inOl = false, inTable = false;
 
   const close = () => {
-    if (inUl)    { out.push('</ul>');            inUl    = false; }
-    if (inOl)    { out.push('</ol>');            inOl    = false; }
-    if (inTable) { out.push('</tbody></table>'); inTable = false; }
+    if (inUl)    { out.push('</ul>');              inUl    = false; }
+    if (inOl)    { out.push('</ol>');              inOl    = false; }
+    if (inTable) { out.push('</tbody></table>');   inTable = false; }
   };
-
   const inline = s =>
     s.replace(/&/g,'&amp;').replace(/</g,'&lt;').replace(/>/g,'&gt;')
      .replace(/\*\*(.+?)\*\*/g,'<strong>$1</strong>')
@@ -19,121 +18,72 @@ function mdToHtml(md) {
 
   while (i < lines.length) {
     const line = lines[i];
-
-    if (line.startsWith('```')) {
-      close();
-      i++;
-      while (i < lines.length && !lines[i].startsWith('```')) i++;
-      i++; continue;
-    }
+    if (line.startsWith('```')) { close(); i++; while (i < lines.length && !lines[i].startsWith('```')) i++; i++; continue; }
     if (/^---+$/.test(line.trim())) { close(); out.push('<hr>'); i++; continue; }
-
     const hm = line.match(/^(#{1,4})\s+(.+)/);
-    if (hm) {
-      close();
-      const lvl = hm[1].length;
-      const id  = hm[2].toLowerCase().replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g,'-');
-      out.push(`<h${lvl} id="${id}">${inline(hm[2])}</h${lvl}>`);
-      i++; continue;
-    }
-
+    if (hm) { close(); const lv=hm[1].length, id=hm[2].toLowerCase().replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g,'-'); out.push(`<h${lv} id="${id}">${inline(hm[2])}</h${lv}>`); i++; continue; }
     if (line.trim().startsWith('|')) {
       const cells = line.trim().replace(/^\||\|$/g,'').split('|').map(c=>c.trim());
-      if (!inTable) {
-        close(); inTable = true;
-        out.push('<table><thead><tr>');
-        cells.forEach(c => out.push(`<th>${inline(c)}</th>`));
-        out.push('</tr></thead><tbody>');
-        i++;
-        if (i < lines.length && /^[\|\s\-:]+$/.test(lines[i])) i++;
-        continue;
-      } else {
-        out.push('<tr>');
-        cells.forEach(c => out.push(`<td>${inline(c)}</td>`));
-        out.push('</tr>');
-        i++; continue;
-      }
+      if (!inTable) { close(); inTable=true; out.push('<table><thead><tr>'); cells.forEach(c=>out.push(`<th>${inline(c)}</th>`)); out.push('</tr></thead><tbody>'); i++; if (i < lines.length && /^[\|\s\-:]+$/.test(lines[i])) i++; continue; }
+      else { out.push('<tr>'); cells.forEach(c=>out.push(`<td>${inline(c)}</td>`)); out.push('</tr>'); i++; continue; }
     }
-
     const ul = line.match(/^[-*]\s+(.*)/);
-    if (ul) {
-      if (inTable) close();
-      if (!inUl) { if (inOl) { out.push('</ol>'); inOl=false; } out.push('<ul>'); inUl=true; }
-      out.push(`<li>${inline(ul[1])}</li>`);
-      i++; continue;
-    }
-
+    if (ul) { if (inTable) close(); if (!inUl) { if (inOl){out.push('</ol>');inOl=false;} out.push('<ul>');inUl=true; } out.push(`<li>${inline(ul[1])}</li>`); i++; continue; }
     const ol = line.match(/^\d+\.\s+(.*)/);
-    if (ol) {
-      if (inTable) close();
-      if (!inOl) { if (inUl) { out.push('</ul>'); inUl=false; } out.push('<ol>'); inOl=true; }
-      out.push(`<li>${inline(ol[1])}</li>`);
-      i++; continue;
-    }
-
+    if (ol) { if (inTable) close(); if (!inOl) { if (inUl){out.push('</ul>');inUl=false;} out.push('<ol>');inOl=true; } out.push(`<li>${inline(ol[1])}</li>`); i++; continue; }
     if (line.trim() === '') { close(); i++; continue; }
-
-    close();
-    out.push(`<p>${inline(line)}</p>`);
-    i++;
+    close(); out.push(`<p>${inline(line)}</p>`); i++;
   }
   close();
   return out.join('\n');
 }
 
+function buildToc(md) {
+  return md.split('\n').reduce((acc, line) => {
+    const m = line.match(/^(#{1,2})\s+(.+)/);
+    if (m) acc.push({ level: m[1].length, text: m[2], id: m[2].toLowerCase().replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g,'-') });
+    return acc;
+  }, []);
+}
+
 // ─── Styles ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 const S = {
-  overlay: {
-    position:'fixed', inset:0, background:'rgba(0,0,0,0.75)',
-    zIndex:2000, display:'flex', alignItems:'flex-start', justifyContent:'flex-end',
-  },
-  panel: {
-    background:'#111217', color:'#f8f9fa', width:'780px', maxWidth:'95vw',
-    height:'100vh', overflowY:'auto', boxShadow:'-4px 0 32px rgba(0,0,0,0.85)',
-    display:'flex', flexDirection:'column',
-  },
-  header: {
-    background:'linear-gradient(135deg,#000000,#151622)', color:'white',
-    padding:'22px 28px', position:'sticky', top:0, zIndex:10,
-    borderBottom:'1px solid #222', display:'flex', alignItems:'center',
-    justifyContent:'space-between',
-  },
-  closeBtn: { background:'none', border:'none', color:'white', fontSize:'22px', cursor:'pointer', lineHeight:1 },
-  toc: {
-    background:'#0d1117', borderBottom:'1px solid #1e1f2e',
-    padding:'10px 32px', display:'flex', flexWrap:'wrap', gap:'4px 18px', fontSize:'11px',
-  },
-  body: { padding:'28px 32px', flex:1, fontSize:'13px', lineHeight:'1.75' },
-  footer: { padding:'14px 32px', borderTop:'1px solid #1e1f2e', fontSize:'11px', color:'#555770', textAlign:'center' },
+  overlay: { position:'fixed', inset:0, background:'rgba(0,0,0,0.75)', zIndex:2000, display:'flex', alignItems:'flex-start', justifyContent:'flex-end' },
+  panel:   { background:'#111217', color:'#f8f9fa', width:'760px', maxWidth:'95vw', height:'100vh', overflowY:'auto', boxShadow:'-4px 0 32px rgba(0,0,0,0.85)', display:'flex', flexDirection:'column' },
+  header:  { background:'linear-gradient(135deg,#000000,#151622)', color:'white', padding:'22px 28px', position:'sticky', top:0, zIndex:10, borderBottom:'1px solid #222', display:'flex', alignItems:'center', justifyContent:'space-between' },
+  closeBtn:{ background:'none', border:'none', color:'white', fontSize:'22px', cursor:'pointer', lineHeight:1 },
+  toc:     { background:'#0d1117', borderBottom:'1px solid #1e1f2e', padding:'10px 32px', display:'flex', flexWrap:'wrap', gap:'4px 18px', fontSize:'11px' },
+  body:    { padding:'28px 32px', flex:1, fontSize:'13px', lineHeight:'1.75' },
+  footer:  { padding:'14px 32px', borderTop:'1px solid #1e1f2e', fontSize:'11px', color:'#555770', textAlign:'center' },
 };
 
 const CSS = `
-.adm h1 { font-size:21px; font-weight:800; color:#f8f9fa; margin:28px 0 10px; border-bottom:1px solid #2a2b3a; padding-bottom:8px; }
-.adm h2 { font-size:16px; font-weight:700; color:#d4af37; margin:28px 0 6px; letter-spacing:.2px; }
-.adm h3 { font-size:12px; font-weight:700; color:#90caf9; margin:18px 0 4px; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.5px; }
-.adm h4 { font-size:13px; font-weight:600; color:#b0b8d0; margin:14px 0 4px; }
-.adm p  { color:#c8ccd8; margin:5px 0 10px; }
-.adm hr { border:none; border-top:1px solid #2a2b3a; margin:22px 0; }
-.adm strong { color:#f8f9fa; }
-.adm code { background:#0d1117; color:#79c0ff; border:1px solid #2a2b3a; border-radius:4px; padding:1px 6px; font-family:'Consolas','Fira Code',monospace; font-size:12px; }
-.adm ul { padding-left:20px; margin:5px 0 10px; color:#c8ccd8; }
-.adm ol { padding-left:20px; margin:5px 0 10px; color:#c8ccd8; }
-.adm li { margin:4px 0; }
-.adm table { width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:12px; background:#181924; border-radius:6px; overflow:hidden; border:1px solid #2a2b3a; margin:10px 0 16px; }
-.adm th { background:#050608; padding:8px 12px; text-align:left; color:#f8f9fa; font-weight:600; font-size:11px; text-transform:uppercase; border-bottom:1px solid #2a2b3a; }
-.adm td { padding:8px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #202231; color:#c8ccd8; }
-.adm tr:last-child td { border-bottom:none; }
-.adm tr:hover td { background:#1e1f2e; }
+.adm h1 { font-size:21px; font-weight:800; color:#f8f9fa; margin:28px 0 10px; border-bottom:1px solid #2a2b3a; padding-bottom:8px }
+.adm h2 { font-size:16px; font-weight:700; color:#d4af37; margin:28px 0 6px; letter-spacing:.2px }
+.adm h3 { font-size:12px; font-weight:700; color:#90caf9; margin:18px 0 4px; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:.5px }
+.adm h4 { font-size:13px; font-weight:600; color:#b0b8d0; margin:14px 0 4px }
+.adm p  { color:#c8ccd8; margin:5px 0 10px }
+.adm hr { border:none; border-top:1px solid #2a2b3a; margin:22px 0 }
+.adm strong { color:#f8f9fa }
+.adm code { background:#0d1117; color:#79c0ff; border:1px solid #2a2b3a; border-radius:4px; padding:1px 6px; font-family:'Consolas','Fira Code',monospace; font-size:12px }
+.adm ul { padding-left:20px; margin:5px 0 10px; color:#c8ccd8 }
+.adm ol { padding-left:20px; margin:5px 0 10px; color:#c8ccd8 }
+.adm li { margin:4px 0 }
+.adm table { width:100%; border-collapse:collapse; font-size:12px; background:#181924; border-radius:6px; overflow:hidden; border:1px solid #2a2b3a; margin:10px 0 16px }
+.adm th { background:#050608; padding:8px 12px; text-align:left; color:#f8f9fa; font-weight:600; font-size:11px; text-transform:uppercase; border-bottom:1px solid #2a2b3a }
+.adm td { padding:8px 12px; border-bottom:1px solid #202231; color:#c8ccd8 }
+.adm tr:last-child td { border-bottom:none }
+.adm tr:hover td { background:#1e1f2e }
 `;
 
-// ─── Admin guide content ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// ─── Admin guide content (no install / Docker content) ────────────────────────
 const GUIDE_MD = `# CPAS Tracker — Admin Guide
 
 Internal tool for CPAS violation documentation, workforce standing management, and audit compliance. All data is stored locally in the Docker container volume — there is no external dependency.
 
 ---
 
-## How CPAS Scoring Works
+## How Scoring Works
 
 Every violation carries a **point value** set at the time of submission. Points count toward an employee's score only within a **rolling 90-day window** — once a violation is older than 90 days it automatically drops off and the score recalculates.
 
@@ -161,7 +111,7 @@ The **at-risk badge** on the dashboard flags anyone within 2 points of the next
 
 The main view. Employees are sorted by active CPAS points, highest first.
 
-- **Stat cards** — live counts: total employees, zero-point (elite), active points, at-risk, highest score
+- **Stat cards** — live counts: total employees, zero-point (elite), with active points, at-risk, highest score
 - **Search / filter** — by name, department, or supervisor; narrows the table in real time
 - **At-risk badge** — gold flag on rows where the employee is within 2 pts of the next tier
 - **Audit Log button** — opens the filterable, paginated write-action log (top right of the dashboard toolbar)
@@ -254,7 +204,7 @@ Each amendment stores a before/after diff for every changed field. Amendment his
 
 ## Roadmap
 
-### ✅ Shipped
+### Shipped
 
 - Container scaffold, violation form, employee intelligence
 - Recidivist auto-escalation, tier crossing warning
@@ -270,7 +220,7 @@ Each amendment stores a before/after diff for every changed field. Amendment his
 
 ---
 
-### 🔜 Near-term
+### Near-term
 
 These are well-scoped additions that fit the current architecture without major changes.
 
@@ -280,7 +230,7 @@ These are well-scoped additions that fit the current architecture without major
 
 ---
 
-### 📋 Planned
+### Planned
 
 Larger features that require more design work or infrastructure.
 
@@ -291,27 +241,18 @@ Larger features that require more design work or infrastructure.
 
 ---
 
-### 🔭 Future Considerations
+### Future Considerations
 
 These require meaningful infrastructure additions and should be evaluated against actual operational need before committing.
 
 - **Multi-user auth** — role-based login (admin, supervisor, read-only). Currently the app assumes a trusted internal network with no authentication layer.
 - **Tier escalation alerts** — email or in-app notification when an employee crosses into Tier 2+, automatically routed to their supervisor.
 - **Scheduled digest** — weekly email summary to supervisors showing their employees' current standings and any approaching thresholds.
-- **Automated DB backup** — scheduled snapshot of `/data/cpas.db` to a mounted backup volume or remote destination.
+- **Automated DB backup** — scheduled snapshot of the database to a mounted backup volume or remote destination.
 - **Bulk CSV import** — migrate historical violation records from paper logs or a prior system.
 - **Dark/light theme toggle** — UI is currently dark-only.
 `;
 
-// ─── TOC builder ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-function buildToc(md) {
-  return md.split('\n').reduce((acc, line) => {
-    const m = line.match(/^(#{1,2})\s+(.+)/);
-    if (m) acc.push({ level: m[1].length, text: m[2], id: m[2].toLowerCase().replace(/[^a-z0-9]+/g,'-') });
-    return acc;
-  }, []);
-}
-
 // ─── Component ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 export default function ReadmeModal({ onClose }) {
   const bodyRef = useRef(null);
@@ -342,7 +283,7 @@ export default function ReadmeModal({ onClose }) {
               📋 CPAS Tracker — Admin Guide
             </div>
             <div style={{ fontSize:'11px', color:'#9ca0b8', marginTop:'3px' }}>
-              Feature map · workflow reference · roadmap · Esc or click outside to close
+              Feature map · workflows · roadmap · Esc or click outside to close
             </div>
           </div>
           <button style={S.closeBtn} onClick={onClose} aria-label="Close">✕</button>
@@ -351,16 +292,12 @@ export default function ReadmeModal({ onClose }) {
         {/* TOC strip */}
         <div style={S.toc}>
           {toc.map(h => (
-            <button
-              key={h.id}
-              onClick={() => scrollTo(h.id)}
-              style={{
-                background:'none', border:'none', cursor:'pointer', padding:'2px 0',
-                color: h.level === 1 ? '#f8f9fa' : '#d4af37',
-                fontWeight: h.level === 1 ? 700 : 500,
-                fontSize:'11px',
-              }}
-            >
+            <button key={h.id} onClick={() => scrollTo(h.id)} style={{
+              background:'none', border:'none', cursor:'pointer', padding:'3px 0',
+              color: h.level === 1 ? '#f8f9fa' : '#d4af37',
+              fontWeight: h.level === 1 ? 700 : 500,
+              fontSize:'11px',
+            }}>
               {h.level === 2 ? '↳ ' : ''}{h.text}
             </button>
           ))}