Debt
Series
Driven into Debt
How Tickets Burden the Poor
Too Broke for Bankruptcy
How Bankruptcy Fails Those Who Need It Most
Debt Inc.
Lending and Collecting in America
Foreclosure Crisis
How Banks and Government Fail Homeowners
Stories
How ProPublica Illinois and WBEZ Worked Together to Find Thousands of Duplicate Tickets in Chicago
We heard from you about how ticket debt, especially from $200 city sticker citations, has affected you. And we would like your help as we continue our reporting.
Chicago Begins To Rethink How Bankruptcy Lawyers Get Paid
Judges are demanding that lawyers tell their clients that their other debts might not get paid, but their lawyers will.
Some States No Longer Suspend Driver’s Licenses for Unpaid Fines. Will Illinois Join Them?
Our analysis shows suspensions tied to ticket debt disproportionately affect motorists in largely black sections of Chicago and its suburbs.
She Owed $102,158.40 in Unpaid Tickets, but She’s Not in the Story
Still, we want to tell you a little bit about her, and about some of the other people we interviewed, because they helped inform our ticket debt investigation.
How Chicago Ticket Debt Sends Black Motorists Into Bankruptcy
A cash-strapped city employs punitive measures to collect from cash-strapped black residents — and lawyers benefit.
The Many Roads to Bankruptcy
Here are some stories of Chicagoans driven into ticket debt.
Without Fanfare, Equifax Makes Bankruptcy Change That Affects Hundreds of Thousands
For years, an Equifax policy has treated some Chapter 13 filers differently than the other two major credit rating agencies. After ProPublica asked about it, the company said it would change the policy.
Chicago’s Bankruptcy Boom
ProPublica’s analysis of racial disparities in bankruptcy revealed a skyrocketing number of filings in Chicago’s black neighborhoods. But most of the cases will fall apart before the debts are wiped away.
Bankruptcy: What’s the Difference Between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13?
Key differences between the chapters make choosing the right one critical for success. Using our analysis, we explain how they work and how people fare under each.
Have You Seriously Considered Filing for Bankruptcy?
If you’ve really thought about filing for bankruptcy, ProPublica wants to hear from you — even if you ultimately decided against it.
In the South, Bankruptcy Is Different, Especially for Black Debtors
Only in the South is Chapter 13 the predominant form of bankruptcy. We mapped Chapter 13’s usage to show that it breaks not only along regional, but also racial lines.
Data Analysis: Bankruptcy and Race in America
An in-depth discussion of racial patterns in bankruptcy filings and outcomes
How the Bankruptcy System Is Failing Black Americans
Black people struggling with debts are far less likely than their white peers to gain lasting relief from bankruptcy, according to a ProPublica analysis. Primarily to blame is a style of bankruptcy practiced by lawyers in the South.
The Color of Debt: How Collection Suits Squeeze Black Neighborhoods
In a first-of-its-kind analysis, ProPublica reveals that the suits are far more common in black communities than white ones.
