Founded in 2016, the Connecticut Bail Fund advocates and supports bail reform, immigrant rights and affordable housing, and organizes those directly impacted by the justice system. Its Pretrial Defense Fund is a revolving bail fund that frees people who are in pretrial detention due to poverty. Those who cannot afford to post bail are forced to languish in jail while awaiting their court date, which poses heavy risks to the stability of their employment, housing, and family. As such, the Pretrial Defense Fund allows clients to defend themselves without endangering their stability or pleading guilty to get out of jail. In addition, the Connecticut Bail Fund operates the Participatory Defense project, an initiative which brings community members involved in active court cases together for weekly support and advice. This funding will support the Connecticut Bail Fund’s legislative advocacy, participatory defense strategies, geographic expansion and bail reform efforts.
