Minnesota nonprofit with $35M bails out those accused of violent crimes

[sarisataka]

Minnesota nonprofit with $35M bails out those accused of violent crimes

A Minnesota nonprofit has bailed out defendants from Twin Cities jails charged with murder, violent felonies, and sex crimes, as it seeks to address a system that disproportionately incarcerates Black people and people of color.  

And it has plenty of money to do it.  

The Minnesota Freedom Fund (MFF) received $35 million in donations in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd, with many of those donations intended to help protesters who were jailed during the demonstrations and riots in May.
 
The group’s mission was celebrated on social media with praise from Hollywood celebrities, like Steve Carell, Cynthia Nixon, and Seth Rogen.  
 
It was an unexpected windfall.  Prior tax returns in 2017 and 2018 show MFF would pull in about $100,000 in donations.   

https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-nonprofit-with-35m-bails-out-those-accused-of-violent-crimes

It appears this nonprofit received the sudden increase in donations to bail out arrested protesters however most of them were cited and released. So now they are just bailing whoever is available without considering charges or past conviction history.

I couldn't help but recall the report from Virginia last week, a person accused of rape was released and then proceeded to murder his accuser.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. This certainly draws attention to the fact that the cash bail system punishes poor people

disproportionately.

[sarisataka]

3. I have no issue with their mission

I question whether a previously convicted sex offender with a history of violence is the best recipient. The money spent on that person could have been used to help a dozen nonviolent offenders.

[mr_lebowski]

2. Well, in theory, that's what the bail system is for ...

However, that seems like an irresponsible use of the funds, esp. if the donors expected their donations to be used to bail out protesters.

Esp. so when so many low-level drug offenders are POC's.

Why a rush to spend the money? Bank it and use it over years to get out people who are really deserving of the largesse.

Seems to me.

[sarisataka]

5. It does seem like their windfall

is burning a hole in their pocket.

I would agree. Focus on first time and nonviolent offenders, people who such intervention may help change their lives. Not to say a person with several felonies is beyond hope, but it is less likely to result in long term change.

[greenjar_01]

4. They were judged to be eligible for bail in a court of law. What's the problem?

These defendants were adjudicated to be bailable. If the prosecutors didn't want them to be bail-eligible, they should have made a better case to the judge. As it stands, they were adjudicated in a court of law to be eligible for bail. Their bail has been paid. So why shouldn't they be allowed to defend themselves from home?

The vast majority of all defendants should be eligible for bail and should be allowed to organize their defense from outside of a jail.

The real issue here is that bail is often a joke for poor people: judges set bails that people cannot afford in order to pretend that they are holding to a system in which most people should be bail-eligible. So now people are mad that *suspected* murderers are out on bail? So what? They're suspected, not convicted. Deal with it. If they were too dangerous to be out, they'd be held without bail. That's the judge's choice, and they already made it.

[MichMan]

6. Wonder how many will jump bail since they or their relatives have nothing to lose

[greenjar_01]

7. If the state of Minnesota didn't want *anybody* to be able to pay the bail

They should pass that law. Not sure the entire industry of Bail Bonds would appreciate it, though.

In any case, I don't recall where it says your family property (!) is what should assure your bond.

[MichMan]

8. Isn't that normally how its done?

Family puts some money down or uses something as collateral?

Do bail bondsman just hand over the money with a promise to show up? Never needed any bail, so maybe they do.


I thought bail was to provide some incentive to ensure people show up for court.

[greenjar_01]

11. And this is how it's done this time

If Minnesota didn't want non-profits to put up bail money, they can pass a law prohibiting it. Interesting Constitutional case that a for profit can put up bail money, but not a non-profit.

Nothing about bail requires family property to be put down LOL. That it usually happens that way is immaterial.

[sarisataka]

9. In the case I mentioned

many DUers questioned why anyone accused of a violent felony would be given bail. In that particular case the person was released over covid concerns, but whether out on bail or released on recognizance the person is free.

The majority of posters favored holding such accused until trial. Hindsight may have influenced opinions.

[greenjar_01]

10. Good for the posters...a judge determined that each of these bailed out defendants was bail eligible

[Indykatie]

12. This Small White Group in MN Collected Millions During the BLM Protests

They were criticized for not doing enough at the time and weren't transparent. I remember an article that cite them spending a few thousand dollars of the millions they had collected. There were other groups in the US working on the same mission that they could have donated some funds to but didn't.