The Juvenile Bail Fund of Massachusetts is a fund dedicated to keeping Massachusetts youth out of jails while they resolve their cases. These children, who have not been convicted of any crime, are being held in jails simply because they cannot afford to post bail; this unjust practice can have devastating effects on these youth: their education is interrupted, they may lose their jobs, their relationships with their families may be strained, so any and their mental health may begin to deteriorate. The JBF is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so all contributions are tax-deductible.

The JBF posts bails of up to $500 for detained youth in Massachusetts. If bail exceedes $500 and all but $500 has been gathered, the JBF will contribute the rest of the money.

Here is how bail works: when charges are brought against someone, a judge determines whether or not that person will be allowed on their own recognizance during their trial. However, this freedom is comes with a price: bail. The judge requires the that defendant pay bail, a lump sum to incentivize the defendant to return to court and complete their case. Although the judge may deem the defendant fit for release, if the defendant cannot afford bail, they will sit in jail for the duration of the trial.

Hundreds of teens of across our state, all of who have not been convicted of a crime, are being held simply because they cannot afford to get out. Imagine the impact it can have on their mental health, the strain it can put on their relationships with their families and communities, and the complete stopage it puts on their education.

The bail system perpetuates the cycle of poverty. For example, if a teen cannot afford to post bail-- which in some cases can be as low as $100-- they may lose their job, a job which they may need to help pay the bills. Without the money from the job, the teen and their family is thrust into a downward spiral of further finacial insecurity. The teenager may be presurred to take a plea deal in hopes of returning to "life-as-usual," but they now have a criminal record, something that will haunt them throughout the rest of their lives. Additionally, the current pre-trial bail system is not consistent as racial factors often contribute to amount of bail set. As the bail amount is set arbitrarily by the judge, any biases that the judge may have will play a role in the bail amount. Historically, black and hispanic people have been required to pay higher bails than other ethnic groups.

The current system is a mess and needs to go.