| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 3 |
IN RESPONSE TO NEW YORK STATE BAIL REFORM LEGISLATION THAT WILL ELIMINATE BAIL FOR MOST CRIMINAL CHARGES, BCBF ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL STOP PAYING BAIL WHEN THE LEGISLATION GOES INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2020. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4A, DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICE: |
BAIL OPERATIONS: FROM 2015-2019, BCBF'S BAIL OPERATIONS PROGRAM PAID BAIL UP TO $2,000 TO SECURE THE PRETRIAL FREEDOM OF OVER 5,000 PRESUMPTIVELY INNOCENT INDIVIDUALS CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANORS, MANY OF WHOM WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE PLED GUILTY JUST TO GO HOME BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY BAIL. BCBF PARTNERED WITH EVERY PUBLIC DEFENDER AGENCY IN BROOKLYN, MANHATTAN AND STATEN ISLAND TO PREVENT UNNECESSARY AND UNJUST PRETRIAL DETENTION. BAIL PAID REVOLVES BACK TO BCBF, AVAILABLE TO HELP OTHERS IN NEED. MOREOVER, 95% OF BCBF CLIENTS RETURN FOR ALL REQUIRED COURT DATES, PROVING THAT BAIL IS NOT ONLY UNJUST BUT UNNECESSARY. ABLE TO WORK WITH THEIR ATTORNEYS TO FIGHT THEIR CASES FROM A POSITION OF FREEDOM, BCBF CLIENTS ARE THREE TIMES AS LIKELY TO RECEIVE FAVORABLE DISPOSITIONS WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER INDIVIDUALS DETAINED PRETRIAL. IN RESPONSE TO NEW YORK STATE BAIL REFORM LEGISLATION THAT WILL ELIMINATE BAIL FOR MOST CRIMINAL CHARGES, BCBF ANNOUNCED THAT IT WOULD STOP PAYING BAIL WHEN THE LEGISLATION GOES INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2020. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4B, DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICE: |
NEW YORK IMMIGRANT FREEDOM FUND: BCBF'S NEW YORK IMMIGRANT FREEDOM FUND (NYIFF) PROGRAM WAS LAUNCHED IN 2018 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH AN ADVISORY COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING TO DISMANTLE OUR PUNITIVE IMMIGRATION AND DETENTION SYSTEMS. LEVERAGING THE EXPERTISE AND INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPED OVER FOUR YEARS AS A CHARITABLE BAIL FUND, BCBF'S NYIFF PROGRAM PAYS IMMIGRATION BOND FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD IT THEMSELVES, REUNITES THEM WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, AND PROVIDES URGENTLY NEEDED POST-RELEASE SUPPORT. IN ADDITION TO PAYING INDIVIDUAL BONDS, NYIFF HARNESSES THE PROGRAM'S RESULTS TO STRATEGICALLY AND OPPORTUNISTICALLY INFLUENCE THE LARGER POLICY CONVERSATION ON DETENTION AND DEPORTATION, IN NEW YORK AND NATIONALLY. IN 2019, BCBF PAID $2.78 MILLION TO FREE 341 INDIVIDUALS FROM ICE DETENTION. |
| FORM 990, PART III, LINE 4C, DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM SERVICE: |
CLIENT SERVICES: THE CLIENT SERVICES PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE SELF-IDENTIFIED POST-RELEASE NEEDS OF BCBF CLIENTS CHALLENGED BY THE DESTABILIZING EFFECTS OF PRETRIAL DETENTION. MANY OF OUR CLIENTS ARE CAUGHT IN NEW YORK CITY'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY LIVE IN CONDITIONS OF POVERTY AND ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY TARGETED, CRIMINALIZED AND PROSECUTED; OTHERS ARE NON-CITIZENS WHO WERE ARRESTED AND DETAINED BY ICE FOR THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS ALONE. OURS IS A HOLISTIC INTERVENTION THAT OFFERS SERVICES ON A SELF-ELECTED, NEED-ONLY BASIS. SOME SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE CLIENT SERVICES TEAM IN-HOUSE; FOR CLIENTS WITH MORE SIGNIFICANT NEEDS, BCBF CONNECTS CLIENTS WITH PARTNER COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, HOUSING AND COUNSELING. IMMIGRATION CLIENTS RECEIVE NEED-BASED ASSISTANCE INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION, PHONE CARDS AND REFERRALS TO PRO BONO LEGAL SERVICES. IN 2019 ALONE, BCBF PROVIDED SUPPORT TO HUNDREDS OF CLIENTS IN NEED. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B |
THE PREPARED FORM 990 IS REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BEFORE THE RETURN IS FILED WITH THE IRS. A COPY OF THE RETURN IS PROVIDED TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY BEFORE IT IS FILED. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C |
ANNUALLY ALL DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS COMPLETE AND SIGN A STATEMENT THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR INTERESTS AND THOSE OF THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT COULD GIVE RISE TO CONFLICTS. THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY MAKE DETERMINATIONS OF WHETHER A CONFLICT EXISTS AND REVIEW ACTUAL CONFLICTS. ANY PERSON WITH A CONFLICT IS PROHIBITED FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE GOVERNING BODY'S DELIBERATIONS AND DECISIONS IN THE TRANSACTION. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15A |
THE INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY DETERMINED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COMPENSATION USING DATA ON COMPENSATION PAID BY COMPARABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SAME OR SIMILAR COMMUNITIES FOR SIMILAR SERVICES. THE RATIONALE FOR THE DECISION TO HIRE THE EXECUTIVE AND THE DETERMINATION OF HIS COMPENSATION WAS CONTEMPORANEOUSLY DOCUMENTED IN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS OF THE GOVERNING BODY. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 |
THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST. |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.