Imagine being incarcerated and getting paid $0.50 a day. Upon your release, you’re required to pay off hundreds or thousands in court debt that you might not even have been told that you have. If you fail to appear in court for whatever reason (your kid is sick, you have to go to work, the courts moved your date without notifying you, etc.), a $125 bench warrant is automatically issued, pushing you into even more financial hardship. If you miss a payment, the courts issue a warrant, without ever notifying you. You might not know until you get arrested at a routine traffic stop, with your kids in the backseat.

Community members dealing with court debt are at risk of losing more than just their freedom for failure to pay- they’re at risk of losing their families, homes and jobs.

100% of funds raised go to community members to pay off court fines and fees, restitution, probation fees, and home confinement/ankle monitor fees. Funding decisions are made by the Behind the Walls Committee, a group of formerly incarcerated and family-impacted people. We prioritize restitution payments and folks who have warrants. Funds are not guaranteed and are based on availability, so please KEEP SHARING AND DONATING! 

To find out if you have court debt; request funds for yourself or a loved one; or get support in reducing your total debt, call DARE at 4013516960!

For updates on the fundraiser and how money is being distributed, visit our page at daretowin.org.