An Overview

Since 2016, The Liberty Fund has successfully provided person-centered services and access to resources for the pretrial jail population using a court-based approach. As part of The Liberty Fund’s model, our team addresses critical needs, helping clients meet their court requirements while connecting them to best-fit services, especially in housing and workforce development.  

The Liberty Fund’s mission is to reduce the pretrial jail population by preventing the poorest New Yorkers from having their lives upended and their freedom sacrificed. Our goal is to provide support to avoid future interactions with the criminal justice system. We achieve our mission by providing pretrial services, including bail and robust case management, to any qualifying bail or ROR (Released On Recognizance) client throughout the pendency of their court case.

The Liberty Fund is an independent 501(c)(3) organization originally established in 2016 in partnership with NYC Council and The Doe Fund, NYC’s leading agency in reducing recidivism and homelessness through social enterprise coupled with transitional housing and supportive services including workforce development.

In January of 2020, as a proactive response to monumental bail reform efforts and in anticipation of great need, The Liberty Fund executed a strategic pivot from bail to implement the ROR Case Management Program.  This innovative program provides voluntary person-centered case management to this vulnerable population.  In 2023 alone, there were over 50,000 individuals released on recognizance from NYC criminal courts and our unique case management approach continues to be a proactive solution in terms of addressing the criminal justice issues and racial inequities this population faces.