Chicago’s ticketing and debt collection practices disproportionately affect people in majority black and low-income neighborhoods. Last year, over 10,000 residents declared bankruptcy due to insurmountable ticket debt. Through our research, we found that the greatest benefit for the ticket holder is in taking action before the ticket doubles, but this rarely happens as navigating the ticketing system creates a heavy cognitive load on the resident and is one of the greatest barriers to paying. Through prototyping and testing within the community, we built a tool embedded in the City of Chicago website that visualizes each resident's unique ticket situation. The purpose is to provide easily digestible information so residents may have a sense of control and be better informed to take the right steps forward.

“This project brought about the most meaningful, beautiful, and difficult interviews I have ever conducted. I felt deeply connected and motivated to move this system of inequity in the right direction, and am thankful for those that were willing to share their life experiences with me. This project gave me a new perspective and awareness of systems of oppression that go unchecked.”

— Jessica Granger DeMeester