Massachusetts Bail Fund

Massachusetts Bail Fund

Overview: The Massachusetts Bail Fund pays up to $500 bail so that low-income people can stay free while they work towards resolving their case, allowing individuals, families, and communities to stay productive, together, and stable.

Background

Status: Active (founded spring 2010)

Geographic Scope: Currently accepts referrals from Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk counties in Massachusetts, with plans for expansion to other Massachusetts counties.

Focus Areas:

Assist low-income and poor residents to meet bail

Address inequities in the bail system

Connect bail fund recipients with community services

Research the inequities of the bail system

Collect data on case outcomes for those who post bail versus those who do not

Advocate for bail system reforms

Community education and awareness building

Eligibility

• Low-income and poor residents of eligible counties
• Must be represented by court-appointed counsel
• Charged with misdemeanors and non-violent crimes
• Assessment based on community ties and history of court compliance

Award Details

• Amount: Up to $500 per case
• Model: Modeled after the highly successful Bronx Freedom Fund (began 2007)
• Process: Steering Committee accepts referrals for eligible candidates and decides to post bail based on availability of funds
• Return: Upon completion of court case, bail money is returned to the fund for use in other cases
• Support Services: Clients are referred to community services for additional support and are accompanied to scheduled court dates, medical appointments, and treatment program intakes

Contact Information

• Address: 2161 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140
• Phone: 617-651-BAIL (2245)
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Visit their website for more information

Background/Rationale

Research suggests that people held during the pretrial period are more likely to be convicted and receive harsher sentences than those released on bail. Throughout Massachusetts, many poor men and women remain in jail because they cannot afford bail—even when as low as $100. Jailing a defendant before conviction costs the community approximately $125 per day. Accused individuals stand to lose jobs, housing, custody of children, and access to mental health or substance abuse treatment. The Bail Fund provides community-based support that is far less expensive than incarceration and eliminates unnecessary pretrial detention.