Welcome to Cecil Freedom Fund

In most states, including Maryland, our justice system treats individuals differently based on their financial resources. Our cash bail system makes freedom available only to those with access to money. People who have the money to post bail can fight their case from home while individuals who cannot spend days, weeks, or months behind bars. The longer an individual spends locked up awaiting trial, the greater their risk of losing employment, housing, and access to other basic needs regardless of guilt. In addition, their families and children are traumatized by losing their loved ones with minimal ability to remain in contact. 

In addition, incarceration disproportionately impacts Black and Brown people. In Cecil County, the population of Black citizens is 6% while they make up 26% of the population in the Cecil County Detention Center. They are also disproportionally impacted by the cash bail system due to systemic racism within our capitalistic society.