Join the fight.
We need your help to educate our community, organize your neighbors, and build the coalition that will end cash bail and immigration detention once and for all in Minnesota.
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Court Watching
Our staff and volunteers observe bail hearings in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, because we believe the pre-trial system should not operate in the dark. Help us hold the courts accountable.
Community events
Our team hosts trainings, workshops, film screenings, court watching sessions, and more. We’re committed to building community around our shared values, and we hope you’ll join us at an upcoming event.
Political Action
We launched Minnesota Freedom Fund Action (MFF Action) in 2022 so that we can more effectively work toward policy change in the immigration and criminal legal systems. Learn more about MFFA and join us!
Keeping Our Eyes on the courts.
Minnesota Freedom Fund’s court watchers highlight the realities of our legal system by recording data, uncovering untold stories, identifying trends, and holding the courts accountable.
Court Watch Trainings
We encourage everyone who wishes to volunteer as a court watcher to attend a training event or complete a training module online (coming soon). Trainings will help you understand what to look for and how to take notes, and provide effective support.
Court Watch Shifts
Our organizers host court watching sessions in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties in Minnesota. We’re in Ramsey Co. on the 4th Monday of each month at 9 a.m., and in Hennepin Co. on the 1st Thursday and 2nd Monday of each month at 1:30 p.m.
UpCOMING events
Fri, Apr 10
8AM-4PM
Understanding and Responding to Mass Incarceration (URMI) Conference: End Slavery in Minnesota Prisons
MFF Executive Director Eli Darris will deliver a keynote address at the 12th Annual Understanding and Responding to Mass Incarceration (URMI) Conference: End Slavery in Minnesota Prisons.
“Here’s something most people don’t know: Slavery is still legal in the state of Minnesota and is in fact enshrined in our state’s Constitution,” Eli said. “It is time to permanently shut these backdoors and trapdoors.”
Join us for a powerful day of truth, testimony, and transformation. Hear directly from incarcerated workers and their families, engage with expert panelists, and take part in interactive breakout sessions.
Fri, Apr 15
9AM-3PM
JUSTICE FOR ALL: DAY ON THE HILL
Join MFF Action and partners for Justice for All: Day on the Hill! This is our moment to come together across organizations and communities to push for a criminal legal system rooted in equity, fairness, and transparency. Our Pretrial Data Transparency Act is part of this year’s coalition slate, making your voice in this space even more important. MFF will be leading trainings to get you ready, whether it’s your first time or you’ve shown up before. Come build power with us. Let’s move Minnesota forward, together.
Agenda:
9AM | Breakfast & Training @ Education MN, 41 Sherburne Ave, St. Paul
10:30AM | Rally @ MN State Capitol Rotunda
12PM | Meet With Legislators @ MN State Capitol
The Justice for All Coalition is a group of Minnesotan individuals and organizations committed to transforming the criminal legal system to ensure fairness, transparency, and public trust in the administration of justice. Learn about the JFA Coalition’s policy priorities for 2026 here.
Thurs, Apr 23
9AM-12PM
Crimmigration in Practice: Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Course
Jump into the world where criminal and immigration law intersect! Minnesota Freedom Fund’s Legal Team is co-sponsoring an in-person Continuing Legal Education (CLE) course with Nilan Johnson Lewis (NJL) called Crimmigration in Practice. This course will break down key concepts, share real-world examples, and spark some lively conversations. Perfect for legal professionals who are curious about how these two areas of law mix and impact lives. Come ready to learn, discuss, and connect face-to-face with other legal professionals that are passionate about justice and policy.
First Thursday & Second Monday Most Months
1:30PM–3:30PM
Hennepin County Court Watch
Volunteers observe bail hearings in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties to promote accountability and build understanding.
Every Tuesday
6PM
Virtual Court Watch Training
Attend a virtual training to become a court watcher. Trainings will introduce bail and arraignment hearings, explain the stakes, and prepare volunteers for what they will observe.
Fourth Monday Most Months
9AM–11AM
Ramsey County Court Watch
Volunteers observe bail hearings in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties to promote accountability and build understanding.
