Friends and Family

This referral is for friends and family members of the detained individual to submit a request for MFF to post their bail.

Please read all of the information below first, then fill out the form with as much information as possible so we can process your request quickly.


NOTES ABOUT SUBMITTING A REQUEST

We cannot approve every request. Reasons a referral might be denied are:

  • The detained person's bail amount exceeds the limit we can post. Because we are a revolving bail fund, our bail amount fluctuates. Sometimes it's higher, and sometimes it's lower based on the amount of money circulating within the system at that time. 

  • The detained person is held outside of Minnesota or in the county where we don't pay bail. As our organization grows, we may expand to other parts of Minnesota. However, at this moment, we can only post bail in Anoka, Hennepin, Washington, Ramsey, Carver, and St. Louis Counties. If you need bail assistance in another state, you may be able to find a local bail fund.

  • The person has reached the maximum number of times we can bail them out. For us to be able to assist as many people as possible, we cannot post bail for someone more than two times in one year.

  • The detained person has a hold(s) that would keep them in jail regardless of bail payment. We can only post bail if it will result in their release. 

  • We do not have the necessary Assignment of Bail to a Third Party form (CRM602) that ensures that the courts will return the money to MFF. This form requires a signature from the detained individual confirming that they waive their right to bail money that MFF posts on their behalf. We usually obtain this form from their attorney. However, if you can obtain their signature during an in-person meeting or visit, or you can obtain their signature by mailing the form to them, we will be able to process the request more efficiently. We are not able to accept forms signed on behalf of the detained individual.

Once you submit a request, we begin processing the application and reach out if we can post  their  bail. If we cannot assist in bail payment, we will reach out to you by the Friday of the week you submitted.

It may take time before we can post your loved one's bail, so please refrain from submitting multiple requests. This can flood our system and make it hard to find necessary information. There is no guarantee that we will be able to post bail for the detained person successfully. Sometimes we run into problems along the way, but we will try to keep you updated. 

We are not bail bond agents. We will never ask you or the detained person to pay us back. Because of that, we can only pay the amount a judge sets. We cannot pay the 10% amount a bail bondsman would quote you. We also do not work with bail bond agents. 

Do not share information that can incriminate you or the person detained. Keep in mind that we are not attorneys. We do not have an attorney/client relationship, so please be mindful when sharing information on the referral.

If you are the victim in a case where a no contact order has been issued, we will not be able to speak to you about the request.

CONSENT FOR BAIL REFERRALS 

By clicking "SUBMIT" on the referral, the person you are referring hereby authorizes the release of any bail evaluations performed pertinent information to determine if bail payment is actionable.

Further, the person you are referring orders bail money posted by Minnesota Freedom Fund to secure their release to be returned, pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 629.53, to Minnesota Freedom Fund at: Minnesota Freedom Fund PO Box 6398 Minneapolis, MN, 55406-0398.

Additionally, the person you are referring understands that this does not guarantee that the Fund will post their bail. The person you are referring also understands that if the Fund does post bail, the money posted by the Fund will be returned to Minnesota Freedom Fund and not to them.

Additional Resources

Minnesota Freedom Fund's mission focuses on securing people's release from jail and detention centers and advocating for an end to the oppressive money bail system. However, other organizations may be able to meet your needs.  

If you need assistance in a criminal case or expungement:  

  • For Hennepin County 

    • Legal Rights Center: Call (612) 337-0030 or e-mail  office@legalrightscenter.org  

  • For Ramsey, Dakota, Washington 

    • Neighborhood Justice Center: Call directly at 651-222.4703 and ask for an intake . 

If you need assistance because your rights have been violated:  

You can file an intake with the Minnesota Department of Human rights  or  call 1-833-454-0148.  

If you would like to file a complaint about the conditions or treatment of someone who is incarcerated or being held in jail: 

  • File a complaint with the Office of the Ombuds for the state of Minnesota. The Office of the Ombuds for Corrections is separate and independent from the Department of Corrections.   

  • The Ombuds has the authority to take and investigate complaints from or about any Department of Corrections' staff or facility charged with the care and custody of inmates and any regional or local correctional facility licensed by the DOC in Minnesota.