Believers Bail Out (BBO) is a community-led effort to bail out Muslims in pretrial incarceration and ICE custody. 

BBO follows the zakat eligibility and distribution processes outlined by the Tayba Foundation, which also serves incarcerated Muslims.

The use of zakat does not go towards the everyday operations of Believers Bail Out. Zakat monies are used for bond and related fees and post-release support. We firmly believe that based on our understandings of the modern American criminal punishment system that Muslims held in pre-trial and immigration incarceration are captive and held in bondage (fi al-riqab 9:60) and can thus be freed (fakku raqabatin 90:13). At the same time, all of our bailees also qualify for zakat based on their statuses as poor and in-need (al-fuqaraa wal masakin 9:60).

BBO wants to #FreeThemAll, but we are currently unable to assist everyone who needs help paying bond. BBO, in coordination with partner community bonds funds and the National Bail Fund Network, — in venues including Chicago, Illinois; New Haven, Connecticut; Boston, Massachusetts; and Minneapolis, Minnesota — uses the following interactive factors to evaluate whether we will assist someone who applies for our help paying bond:

-Incarcerated person identifies as Muslim and is qualified to receive zakat;
-Inability to pay bond required, including lack of access to family or community resources;
-Amount of bond to be paid;
-Existing support system, such as a family member, friend, or case manager who commits to provide assistance making court dates and/or other forms of support;
-Risk of victimization in the jail or the immigration detention center, including but not limited to: race, religion, gender identity and expression, people with disabilities, and youth or elder status;
-Special health needs such as pregnancy, chronic medical conditions, or ongoing mental health treatment;
-Is a primary caregiver; has dependents or other family members who may be harmed by applicant’s incarceration, including risk of custody loss or Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) involvement;
-Immigration status and potential immigration consequences of a criminal conviction;
-Risk of deportation;
-Referral through or connection to an established partner organization;
-Anticipated impact of incarceration on applicant’s employment; housing, educational attainment, and/or custodial rights;
-Position in relation to structural violence, community disinvestment, systemic racism, survival, and resistance; and
-Willingness to assist with raising money to cover any anticipated court costs, fines, or fees that will not be refunded to the bond fund.

Because we presume innocence and recognize the harm caused by incarceration, BBO will not use the criminal charge as a criterion. One reason BBO focuses on Muslims in pretrial incarceration and immigration incarceration is that anti-Muslim racism exposes Muslims to increased risk of victimization and denial of religious freedom in the prison and immigration incarceration systems.