Freedom for all regardless of wealth.
Minnesota Freedom Fund pays cash bails and immigration bonds for those who can’t afford it, because wealth should never decide who is kept in detention and who goes free.
WHAT WE DO
The cash bail and immigration detention systems put a price on freedom that only a few can afford, effectively criminalizing poverty and fueling the growth of mass incarceration.
At Minnesota Freedom Fund, we pay bails and immigration bonds, provide support to clients after release, and build communities where wealth does not determine freedom.
pre-trial bails
We provide financial support for people who are legally innocent and stuck in jail awaiting trial simply because they cannot afford to pay their bail.
CLIENT SUPPORT
We send court reminders, provide rides to court, and help clients with housing, jobs, healthcare, and more after they’re released.
Immigration bonds
We provide financial support for immigrants who have been assigned a bond, but are still being jailed by ICE because they cannot afford to pay.
Community building
We host events, watch the courts, educate our community, and engage our neighbors in the fight against wealth-based jailing.
WE MAKE AN IMPACT
Minnesota Freedom Fund was founded in 2016 by a University of Minnesota student. Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, we received an outpouring of support from around the world. Since then, we’ve put those resources to work, freeing thousands of people from pre-trial jailing and immigration detention.
2,978
People freed from wealth-based jailing
$4,805,000
Paid for immigration bonds
$20,412,236
Paid for cash bails
$6,200,705
Regranted to local partners
Our mission & VISION
a world without wealth-based jailing
The Minnesota Freedom Fund pays criminal bail and immigration bonds for those who cannot otherwise afford to as we seek to end discriminatory, coercive, and oppressive jailing.
We envision a world where justice restores the humanity and dignity of all involved. We fight to exist in a world where every individual has access to resources to lead healthy and full lives.
We reduce immediate harms while we work for long-term change.
01. Provide Immediate Relief
Pay pre-trial bails and immigration bonds for people who can’t afford it, and provide support after release.
02. Organize Our Community
Educate our neighbors, build coalitions, and transition power to people harmed by the systems we fight.
03. Fight for Systemic Change
Identify alternative solutions, promote policies to implement those solutions, and fight to protect our victories.
Join the fight to end wealth-based jailing.
We make a bigger impact when we work together. Join the fight to protect our neighbors from wealth-based jailing and abolish systems of mass incarceration.
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