3/20/2020 - EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, WE CAN NO LONGER SUPPORT REQUESTS FOR BAIL ASSISTANCE. PLEASE GO HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Please note: Our policy regarding posting bail for people with an Electronic Monitoring (GPS, SCRAM, etc.) requirement in addition to a cash bail has changed. Please read below.
Please note: Our policy regarding posting bail for people with an Electronic Monitoring (GPS, SCRAM, etc.) requirement in addition to a cash bail has changed. Please read below.
CHANGES TO BAIL POSTING SCHEDULE
Referrals are accepted from the 1st to the 15th of the month. Referrals will close on the 15th and the referral form will not be available until the 1st of the next month. Referrals submitted between the 1st and the 15th will be processed until all referrals are complete.
We are a non-judgemental bail fund; we are charge, court history, and circumstance neutral. If your client or loved one is held on a bail of $500 or less OR you have all but $500 of the necesarry bail, we want to help. If you have questions please don't hesitate to contact us at information@massbailfund.org or simply complete the referral at the bottom of the page.
We are an all volunteer agency. We rely on attorneys who refer clients to us to let us know the essential information we need in order to post and pickup bail efficiently. We expect attorneys to read the below requirements and to let us know the following information when cases close:
1. Date of Case Closure - what date the case resolve?
2. Case Disposition - for example, Dismissal, or Guilty-Probation for 6 months
3. Attorney Fee Status- Bails are not available for pickup until the attorney fee is fulfilled in some way.
The need for our assistance is bottomless. The Massachusetts Bail Fund is dedicated to helping as many people as we can, and to do this we rely on attorneys to let us know case information as quickly as possible.
We are a non-judgemental bail fund; we are charge, court history, and circumstance neutral. If your client or loved one is held on a bail of $500 or less OR you have all but $500 of the necesarry bail, we want to help. If you have questions please don't hesitate to contact us at information@massbailfund.org or simply complete the referral at the bottom of the page.
We are an all volunteer agency. We rely on attorneys who refer clients to us to let us know the essential information we need in order to post and pickup bail efficiently. We expect attorneys to read the below requirements and to let us know the following information when cases close:
1. Date of Case Closure - what date the case resolve?
2. Case Disposition - for example, Dismissal, or Guilty-Probation for 6 months
3. Attorney Fee Status- Bails are not available for pickup until the attorney fee is fulfilled in some way.
The need for our assistance is bottomless. The Massachusetts Bail Fund is dedicated to helping as many people as we can, and to do this we rely on attorneys to let us know case information as quickly as possible.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
- Referrals are generally accepted from court-appointed counsel. If your loved one is held on a bail that we can post, we are committed to helping. Please email information@massbailfund.org with as much information as you have about the case and we will help.
- Request for bail funds must be $500.00 or less. The Massachusetts Bail Fund will cover the $40.00 bail commissioner fee.
- The Massachusetts Bail Fund will also contribute up to $500.00 where the client's bail is over $500.00 and all but $500.00 has been collected. In situations where the Bail Fund contributes to a client's bail the Bail Fund and the client's friend or family member will be co-sureties. This new policy has been agreed to by the State Bail Administrator. Once the case is concluded, the client's friend or family member can go on their own to retrieve their share of the bail. NOTE: we do our very best to make this happen, however, in situation where the bail commissioner refuses to issue two surety forms, the Bail Fund must be the sole surety. Once the case is concluded and the bail is returnable, we will reimbuse the family/friends in full.
- The Bail Fund acceps referrals state wide. If your client or loved one is incarcerated pretrial in Massachusetts, we can help.
- Your client must be released at the time bail is posted. If your client will not be released when bail is posted, please let us know the situation and we will try and work something out.
- We do not, at this time, post bail for jcases originating out of juvenile court.
ELECTRONIC MONITORING (GPS, SCRAM, Etc.)
When EM is a condition of release assigned by a judge, we can post bail when the following is confirmed:
- We have confirmation from the person's attorney (or the court) that the person is on the transport list for the day our volunteer can be in court.
- We have confirmation from the person's attorney (or the court or probation department) that there is an EM unit available on that date as well. If probation informs you that there is no EM unit available, please let us know; this is an unacceptable situation and we can help.
- Middlesex County - where the person is held at the Billerica House of Correction
- Hampden County - where the person is held at the Hampden County House of Correction or the Hampden Count Jail
- Franklin County - where the person is held at the Franklin County Jail.
- Bristol County - where the person is held at either the Bristol County House of Corrections or Ash Street Jail
TRANSPORTATION:
- The person whose bail we are posting will need transportation from the jail or house of correction where they are held. We can, at times, provide transportation with notice. Please include information about who will provide transportation to your client in one of the referral fields.
- Exceptions:
- Nashua Street Jail & South Bay House of Correction: public transportation is available and your client/loved one will not need a ride. We will provide a $10 MBTA pass to every person we post for at these two jails.
- Middleton House of Correction: While it is preferable for your client/loved one to have their own transportation from the jail, the Middleton staff will drive people back to the police station in the town where your clients case originates. Please specify in one of the fields on the form how your client /loved one will be transported from the jail (on their own or by the jail staff).
- Billerica House of Correction: While it is preferable for your client/loved one to have their own transportation from the jail, the Billerica staff will drive people to the train station in Billerica and give them two train ride tickets. Please specify in one of the fields on the form how your client /loved one will be transported from the jail (on their own or by the jail staff).
- All other facilities: We will make every effort to post bail for your client even if they do not have a confirmed ride. We will also make every effort to provide transportation wherever possible. However, please note that there are facilities which will not allow us to post bail if the client doesn't have a ride on site when bail is posted. MCI Framingham and Plymouth House of Correction are two such facilities where we have been prevented from posting bail due to lack of transportation. Please let us know on the referral if you are having trouble securing transportation for your client and we will try and assist.