Attorney Referral Form

Minnesota Freedom Fund provides bail assistance for those facing incarceration due to an inability to pay said bail. PLEASE NOTE: We post bail in the state of Minnesota only. If you need bail assistance in another state, you may be able to find a local bail fund at bit.ly/localbailfunds.

MFF provides need-based assistance. Neither race (or perceived race), orientation, or gender affect a person's eligibility to receive assistance. However, we do prioritize those who face the greatest level of danger and marginalization in detention. Our list of priority groups can be found in our F.A.Q on our website. MFF recognizes that the criminal legal system is racist. We collect race data about the people we serve to ensure that our impact counteracts these racial disparities rather than contributes to them. This information is for statistical purposes and helps us tell the story of bail setting practices in Minnesota.

All attorneys must obtain a signed Assignment of Bail to a Third Party Form. You can find that form here.

All attorneys submitting this request on behalf of their clients are expected to inform clients that by signing the form and providing the details listed below, they are making a formal request for bail, but with no guarantee MFF will pay. If you need access to these documents or have further questions about making a referral, please email: referrals@mnfreedomfund.org.

REMINDER: MFF requires these steps to be completed for the referral to be considered a formal request. Incomplete referrals will not be considered.

Please fill out the below form to submit a criminal bail referral on behalf of a detained individual.

All fields marked with * are required.

Attorney Name *

Attorney Email Address *

Attorney Phone Number (Format as 000-000-0000) *

What is your preferred method of communication? *

What type of attorney are you? *

In which county is your client being held? *

Your client must understand that the judge may forfeit their bail if they do not abide by conditions of release or miss a court appearance. Our assistance is paid for with donations. We are a revolving fund, meaning we use funds repeatedly as court cases resolve; therefore, a forfeiture will affect dozens of requests moving forward. This needs to be emphasized with clients before MFF is willing to pay.

Have you discussed the model of our assistance with your client? *

Yes No

We require signed forms stating that bail money will be refunded to Minnesota Freedom Fund and not the client once their case is resolved.

Has your client signed our Assignment of Bail to a Third Party form? *

Yes No

Legal First Name of Your Client *

Legal Middle Name of Your Client

Legal Last Name of Your Client *

Suffix of Your Client (ex. Jr, Sr, III, etc.)

Authentic/Preferred Name, if different from their legal name

Pronouns of Your Client *

Gender of Your Client *

Race or Perceived Race of Person Needing Bail (If Other, specify in Special Concerns Section) *

Sexual Orientation of Your Client

Is your client currently employed?

Yes No

It is necessary that MFF can contact your client after they are released. Please provide a valid phone number if possible. If unavailable, enter "Unknown."

Note: We do not make collections calls.

Phone Number of Your Client (Format as 000-000-0000) *

Email Address of Your Client *

What is the home address of your client? This can include a P.O. Box number as well as a shelter where they often stay (Please indicate if it it is a shelter/Halfway House/Treatment Facility). If they do not have a permanent address or their address is unknown, enter "N/A" in all address fields

Street Address *

City *

State *

Zip Code *

What is your client's preferred method of communication? *

Date of Birth of Your Client *

What is your client's primary language? If they will need a translator, please specify. *

What is your client's case number(s)? Please only list the case number with bail set if there are multiple. If there are other case numbers with the same bail amount, please note if paying for one will cover the others as well or if each case needs to be paid separately.

Case Number(s) *

In which facility is your client being held? *

Is the charge protest-related? *

Yes No

Bail Amount *

Next Court Date *

Has MFF posted bail for your client in the past? *

Yes No

Is there any kind of no-contact or restraining order in place? *

If yes, will the your client have a safe address upon release?

Please provide any additional notes we should know:

In cases of DUI, do they fully understand the restrictions on driving and have alternate transportation plans in place, including how to get to and from work if employed? *

Please explain your answer:

Will this person be required to be on electronic home monitoring? *

Yes No

We can only pay bail if it equals release. Have you double-checked to ensure there aren't any outstanding warrants or holds that would keep them in custody, even if we post their bail? If your client has holds/warrants, please select yes. *

Please explain if you have plans for holds to be resolved/expire/quashed. If they have holds, please note if they are payable, the amount, the case number, and jurisdiction. If not, put "N/A". *

While a history of failure to appear (FTA) will not disqualify an application, we would appreciate any explanation that can be given along with notes on improvements to the circumstances around recent FTA's.

Failure to Appear History *

Please explain FTA circumstances:

Is your client being released directly to treatment? *

Please note if a treatment bed is available now for your client or if you need us to consider paying on a specific day or before a certain date to help them keep their treatment bed:

Please tell us if there are any special concerns we should be aware of that put your client at risk for harm because they are detained? (ex, Fear of ICE, chemical dependency, pregnancy, homelessness, individual on suicidal watch, trans individuals, health concerns, caretaker, might lose housing or job, etc.)

Special Concerns

Please list a support person who can be contacted once your client is set to be released from custody. This can be a family member, a friend, a teacher, a caseworker, a religious leader, or anyone else supporting this person. We will contact this person to let them know when a person's bail is about to be paid so they can make any necessary transportation arrangements. Do not list yourself as a release contact unless you have a relationship with your client where you provide more for them than reminding them of a court date.

Please list a support contact. If unknown, enter "N/A". *

Please list the support contact's phone number (or email address). If unknown, enter "N/A". (Format as 000-000-0000) *

What is their preferred method of communication? *

What is this person's primary language? If unknown, enter "N/A". *

What is their relationship to your client? *

Please list an alternate support contact. If unknown, enter "N/A".

Please list the alternate support contact's phone number (or email address). If unknown, enter "N/A". (Format as 000-000-0000)

What is their preferred method of communication?

What is this person's primary language? If unknown, enter "N/A".

What is their relationship to your client?

Would you like to be added to our monthly MFF updates and announcements email list for attorneys?

Yes No

Referrer Name and Contact Information (please enter "See attorney info", or your name, email, and phone number if you are submitting a referral on behalf of another attorney) *

We operate on a first-come, first-serve basis and will try to get back to you as soon as possible if the request is within our limits. As a reminder, we prioritize populations most harmed in this system. If you would like to see these priority groups, visit the F.A.Q on our website. Unless there is a change in your client's case, please only submit one application. Thank you.

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