U of M Grad. student takes on injustices in the bail system - His non-profit pays bail fees for...

[Equinox Moon]

http://www.startribune.com/university-of-minnesota-student-takes-on-injustices-in-the-bail-system/418289153/

Freedom Fund nonprofit aims to level the playing field by helping low-income people in Minnesota post bail.

If someone is held on a bond under $1,000 and doesn’t have the resources to post, Cecil will bail him or her out. As long as the defendant shows up for court, the money goes back to the fund. So far, all but two have made good on that promise.

The success of the fund is already gaining traction with others in the criminal justice system. A group that includes Hennepin County judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and community organizers has been meeting since November with the goal of starting a larger-scale fund that could expand to more people and more counties.

Yet their endeavor goes beyond just posting bond. The group believes Minnesota’s bail system is fundamentally broken. And to truly solve that, they acknowledge, is going to be much trickier.

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Awesome! I love hearing about citizens stepping up to make a difference!