Insights & Information

Lawmakers in Springfield are pushing for a legislative reform to make it more difficult for debt collectors to jail low-income individuals who do not meet payment deadlines, according to an article published in the Herald-News and Chicago Sun-Times. The proposal would require court notices to be served to the individuals' homes rather than simply mailed, and would mandate that arrest warrants expire after one year. According to Attorney General Lisa Madigan, informal proceedings in Illinois courtrooms utilized by debt collectors are what have allowed such abuses to occur. "More people are unemployed, more people are struggling financially and more creditors are trying to get their debt paid," Madigan said. To read the full article, click here.