One of the problems I have with these type of stories is the lack of details about what is actually going on.
The Pro Publica story was exhaustive in details. It gave the debtors/arrestee side in detail. Then they spoke to the judge, the lawyers, the ambulance company, the hospital, in same level of depth. And it gave a general overview of debt collection law, and how the judge came to be on the bench, who he is and his views in his own words.
It was far better than most as far as detail.