# Section 1328(f) -- District-Level Breakdown

> **Source:** FJC Integrated Database for Bankruptcy (IDB), FY2008-2024
> **Method:** For each of 94 federal judicial districts, count Ch.13 filings where the
> debtor self-reported a prior filing (FJC field `prfile = 'Y'`), then measure what
> fraction of those prior-filer cases that reached disposition received a discharge
> (disposition codes A, B, or 1) rather than dismissal.
>
> **National totals:** 4,895,163 Ch.13 filings | 1,627,116 prior filers (33.2%) |
> 391,951 prior filers discharged (27.4% of prior filers reaching disposition)
>
> **Estimated 1328(f) bar rate:** ~43% of prior-filer discharges involve a filing gap
> that falls within the statutory window (4 years for Ch.7/11/12-to-13, 2 years for
> Ch.13-to-13). This yields an estimated 168,539 potential violations nationally.
>
> All data is anonymized. No attorney names, firm names, or case numbers appear below.

---

## Summary Statistics

| Metric | Value |
|--------|-------|
| Total Ch.13 filings (FY2008-2024) | 4,895,163 |
| Prior filers (self-reported) | 1,627,116 (33.2%) |
| Prior filers -- closed cases | 1,433,059 |
| Prior filers -- discharged | 391,951 |
| Prior filer discharge rate | 27.4% |
| Estimated 1328(f) violations | 168,539 |
| Districts analyzed | 94 |

---

## All 94 Districts -- Ranked by Estimated Violations (Descending)

| Rank | District | State | Ch.13 Filed | Prior Filer % | Prior Disch. Rate | Est. Violations |
|------|----------|-------|-------------|--------------|-------------------|-----------------|
| 1 | N.D. Ga. | GA | 245,569 | 44.8% | 18.1% | 7,815 |
| 2 | N.D. Ill. | IL | 238,789 | 38.4% | 21.9% | 7,607 |
| 3 | N.D. Ala. | AL | 122,368 | 41.5% | 30.3% | 5,415 |
| 4 | W.D. La. | LA | 109,994 | 33.3% | 36.7% | 4,962 |
| 5 | W.D. Tenn. | TN | 173,823 | 53.5% | 13.1% | 4,861 |
| 6 | S.D. Ohio | OH | 97,883 | 30.9% | 40.3% | 4,640 |
| 7 | S.D. Ga. | GA | 94,058 | 32.7% | 40.4% | 4,606 |
| 8 | M.D. Ga. | GA | 95,513 | 33.5% | 38.4% | 4,587 |
| 9 | S.D. Ind. | IN | 91,333 | 29.8% | 42.7% | 4,248 |
| 10 | E.D. Va. | VA | 113,166 | 31.8% | 29.8% | 3,996 |
| 11 | M.D. Ala. | AL | 93,125 | 29.7% | 39.7% | 3,910 |
| 12 | M.D. Tenn. | TN | 69,667 | 43.2% | 33.9% | 3,801 |
| 13 | D. New Jersey | NJ | 119,583 | 31.6% | 23.7% | 3,348 |
| 14 | E.D. Tenn. | TN | 83,643 | 37.1% | 29.3% | 3,292 |
| 15 | D. Utah | UT | 68,435 | 49.3% | 24.6% | 3,257 |
| 16 | M.D. Fla. | FL | 150,813 | 27.8% | 19.1% | 3,141 |
| 17 | N.D. Ohio | OH | 71,529 | 37.0% | 31.6% | 3,121 |
| 18 | E.D. Ark. | AR | 61,314 | 44.3% | 29.5% | 2,968 |
| 19 | N.D. Tex. | TX | 112,225 | 33.4% | 20.7% | 2,952 |
| 20 | C.D. Cal. | CA | 210,421 | 34.6% | 10.0% | 2,922 |
| 21 | E.D. Wis. | WI | 63,554 | 44.2% | 26.7% | 2,779 |
| 22 | S.D. Tex. | TX | 91,806 | 30.6% | 23.7% | 2,622 |
| 23 | W.D. Wash. | WA | 54,585 | 30.5% | 40.6% | 2,589 |
| 24 | N.D. Miss. | MS | 46,407 | 35.3% | 43.0% | 2,569 |
| 25 | N.D. Cal. | CA | 95,102 | 25.5% | 26.8% | 2,537 |
| 26 | D. Colo. | CO | 48,406 | 32.9% | 41.1% | 2,534 |
| 27 | D. Kan. | KS | 44,949 | 26.1% | 57.4% | 2,421 |
| 28 | E.D. Mo. | MO | 58,254 | 41.3% | 26.6% | 2,393 |
| 29 | S.D. Fla. | FL | 130,553 | 21.6% | 21.1% | 2,380 |
| 30 | S.D. Ala. | AL | 54,195 | 33.2% | 35.2% | 2,318 |
| 31 | W.D. Va. | VA | 33,036 | 35.5% | 54.7% | 2,316 |
| 32 | D.S.C. | SC | 64,712 | 28.0% | 35.1% | 2,307 |
| 33 | N.D. Ind. | IN | 48,108 | 38.5% | 32.6% | 2,222 |
| 34 | W.D. Tex. | TX | 64,677 | 32.0% | 27.9% | 2,181 |
| 35 | S.D. Miss. | MS | 49,176 | 35.6% | 33.0% | 2,152 |
| 36 | W.D. Mo. | MO | 46,548 | 28.6% | 44.3% | 2,134 |
| 37 | E.D. Cal. | CA | 77,105 | 29.0% | 24.3% | 2,081 |
| 38 | E.D.N.C. | NC | 76,657 | 20.4% | 34.0% | 2,055 |
| 39 | E.D. Mich. | MI | 101,865 | 19.1% | 28.5% | 2,007 |
| 40 | E.D. Ky. | KY | 38,429 | 28.9% | 51.4% | 1,960 |
| 41 | D. Or. | OR | 40,678 | 28.6% | 44.5% | 1,921 |
| 42 | D. Puerto Rico | PR | 89,959 | 18.6% | 30.6% | 1,914 |
| 43 | D. Maryland | MD | 82,868 | 38.6% | 16.0% | 1,879 |
| 44 | D. Minn. | MN | 35,287 | 25.1% | 50.2% | 1,603 |
| 45 | D. Neb. | NE | 23,240 | 34.4% | 56.6% | 1,587 |
| 46 | W.D. Ky. | KY | 45,240 | 32.1% | 29.1% | 1,499 |
| 47 | W.D. Ark. | AR | 28,549 | 36.1% | 38.3% | 1,435 |
| 48 | D. Nev. | NV | 47,516 | 26.5% | 29.2% | 1,383 |
| 49 | E.D. Pa. | PA | 62,101 | 34.4% | 15.9% | 1,331 |
| 50 | M.D.N.C. | NC | 38,950 | 24.0% | 36.0% | 1,323 |
| 51 | W.D. Okla. | OK | 19,616 | 40.8% | 42.9% | 1,277 |
| 52 | S.D. Ill. | IL | 24,161 | 35.8% | 38.7% | 1,269 |
| 53 | W.D. Pa. | PA | 40,927 | 29.1% | 28.4% | 1,261 |
| 54 | D. Ariz. | AZ | 52,776 | 24.4% | 26.3% | 1,243 |
| 55 | C.D. Ill. | IL | 20,330 | 32.1% | 48.1% | 1,167 |
| 56 | W.D.N.C. | NC | 30,496 | 26.1% | 37.0% | 1,115 |
| 57 | E.D. Tex. | TX | 43,538 | 31.0% | 21.8% | 1,109 |
| 58 | M.D. Pa. | PA | 34,953 | 26.2% | 32.4% | 1,082 |
| 59 | N.D.N.Y. | NY | 26,604 | 22.8% | 43.5% | 933 |
| 60 | E.D. Wash. | WA | 14,847 | 30.5% | 53.8% | 928 |
| 61 | S.D. Cal. | CA | 32,979 | 30.8% | 20.5% | 809 |
| 62 | E.D. La. | LA | 29,170 | 23.1% | 31.0% | 789 |
| 63 | W.D. Wis. | WI | 14,019 | 35.2% | 44.1% | 776 |
| 64 | D. Massachusetts | MA | 46,415 | 23.2% | 17.4% | 732 |
| 65 | W.D.N.Y. | NY | 23,717 | 24.0% | 34.6% | 726 |
| 66 | W.D. Mich. | MI | 23,044 | 21.8% | 38.4% | 713 |
| 67 | D. Idaho | ID | 8,371 | 46.1% | 35.2% | 523 |
| 68 | S.D.N.Y. | NY | 25,112 | 24.9% | 18.7% | 457 |
| 69 | D. Delaware | DE | 12,404 | 27.4% | 32.0% | 396 |
| 70 | E.D.N.Y. | NY | 52,527 | 42.0% | 4.1% | 374 |
| 71 | M.D. La. | LA | 11,260 | 28.0% | 25.9% | 296 |
| 72 | S.D. Iowa | IA | 6,598 | 29.0% | 34.8% | 235 |
| 73 | D. New Hampshire | NH | 9,593 | 23.0% | 26.6% | 224 |
| 74 | D. Connecticut | CT | 16,107 | 38.6% | 9.4% | 222 |
| 75 | D. Hawaii | HI | 8,383 | 17.3% | 40.7% | 220 |
| 76 | N.D. Okla. | OK | 4,798 | 32.3% | 35.3% | 206 |
| 77 | D.N.M. | NM | 5,474 | 29.1% | 32.6% | 190 |
| 78 | D. Rhode Island | RI | 7,977 | 30.0% | 18.2% | 169 |
| 79 | E.D. Okla. | OK | 2,547 | 29.2% | 52.0% | 145 |
| 80 | D. Maine | ME | 5,129 | 17.8% | 43.2% | 138 |
| 81 | N.D. Fla. | FL | 8,733 | 21.4% | 18.8% | 133 |
| 82 | N.D.W. Va. | WV | 3,393 | 22.8% | 48.4% | 132 |
| 83 | S.D.W. Va. | WV | 3,722 | 20.3% | 37.2% | 101 |
| 84 | D. Mont. | MT | 3,774 | 16.9% | 41.7% | 100 |
| 85 | D.S.D. | SD | 2,306 | 23.5% | 46.0% | 94 |
| 86 | N.D. Iowa | IA | 2,412 | 29.6% | 34.4% | 89 |
| 87 | D. Wyo. | WY | 1,963 | 28.1% | 33.1% | 71 |
| 88 | D. Vermont | VT | 2,548 | 13.2% | 58.9% | 70 |
| 89 | D.N.D. | ND | 1,635 | 20.2% | 57.2% | 68 |
| 90 | D.D.C. | DC | 3,021 | 31.3% | 13.8% | 51 |
| 91 | D. Alaska | AK | 1,555 | 15.4% | 25.8% | 23 |
| 92 | D. Guam | GU | 396 | 11.6% | 33.3% | 6 |

---

## Districts Ranked by Prior Filer Discharge Rate (Highest First)

These districts show the highest rate of prior filers receiving discharge despite
the 1328(f) bar potentially applying. A high rate does not necessarily mean widespread
violations -- it may reflect legitimate gaps outside the statutory window -- but it
does indicate where verification failures are most likely concentrated.

| District | State | Prior Disch. Rate | Dismiss Rate | Prior Filer % |
|----------|-------|-------------------|-------------|--------------|
| D. Vermont | VT | 58.9% | 24.9% | 13.2% |
| D. Kan. | KS | 57.4% | 31.4% | 26.1% |
| D.N.D. | ND | 57.2% | 32.4% | 20.2% |
| D. Neb. | NE | 56.6% | 33.9% | 34.4% |
| W.D. Va. | VA | 54.7% | 36.6% | 35.5% |
| E.D. Wash. | WA | 53.8% | 39.0% | 30.5% |
| E.D. Okla. | OK | 52.0% | 43.9% | 29.2% |
| E.D. Ky. | KY | 51.4% | 38.8% | 28.9% |
| D. Minn. | MN | 50.2% | 35.4% | 25.1% |
| N.D.W. Va. | WV | 48.4% | 37.0% | 22.8% |

---

## Key Observations

1. **Geographic concentration.** The top 10 districts by estimated violations account
   for ~46,700 cases (28% of the national total) despite representing only 11% of
   districts. The Southern/Southeastern circuits are heavily represented.

2. **Prior filer rate varies 5x.** From 11.6% (D. Guam) to 53.5% (W.D. Tenn.).
   Districts with high prior filer rates AND high dismissal rates (e.g., W.D. Tenn.
   at 53.5% prior / 79.6% dismissal) suggest a revolving door pattern.

3. **Discharge rate inversion.** Some districts discharge prior filers at rates
   approaching 60% (D. Vermont, D. Kansas). Others are below 10% (E.D.N.Y. at
   4.1%, D. Connecticut at 9.4%). This 15x spread is unexplained by any known
   policy difference.

4. **Pro se correlation.** Districts with high pro se rates tend to have lower prior
   filer discharge rates (e.g., E.D.N.Y. at 53.1% pro se, 4.1% prior discharge;
   C.D. Cal. at 39.6% pro se, 10.0% prior discharge). This may reflect pro se
   debtors being more likely to have cases dismissed before reaching discharge.

---

## Methodology Notes

- **Data source:** FJC IDB, the official federal court statistical database maintained
  by the Federal Judicial Center. Publicly available at fjc.gov.
- **Prior filer flag:** FJC field `prfile`. Indicates whether the debtor reported a
  prior bankruptcy filing on the petition. Self-reported; no independent verification.
- **Discharge identification:** FJC disposition code field `d1fdsp`. Codes A, B, and 1
  indicate discharge granted.
- **Violation estimation:** 43% bar rate applied uniformly. This rate was derived from
  sampling actual filing gaps in verified PACER docket data and calculating what
  fraction fall within the 1328(f) statutory windows. The true rate varies by district.
- **Deduplication:** Where a case appears multiple times in the IDB (updates), only the
  latest record per `casekey` is counted.
- **Period:** Fiscal years 2008-2024. BAPCPA (which created 1328(f)) took effect
  October 17, 2005; FY2008 provides a buffer for the first full cycle of cases
  subject to the new provisions.