Removing barriers to help people exit the justice system.
Because small fines and fees should not prevent people from moving forward with their lives.
All too often in the criminal justice system, relatively small financial requirements get in the way of someone being able to move forward with their life while attempting to comply with the requirements of the system itself.
These include costs that people outside the system would deal with easily, but can become significant barriers for those who have been charged with a crime or are serving time for a crime.
Our Fund, a registered Oregon 501(c)(3) non-profit, works directly with public defenders to help address these small impediments when they become the last remaining financial barrier for someone being able to exit the justice system.
Sara D. Snyder: July 23, 1973 - April 20, 2019
Our History
We began operating in 2019 as a small, informal, all-volunteer organization providing direct support to people in Oregon. Our model was simple: Give 100% of donations to those in need, based on direct requests from public defenders.
In response to continually growing demand, in 2023, the Sara Snyder Defendant Support Fund became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. In addition to making all donations tax-deductible, our nonprofit status gives us more flexibility to raise awareness and qualify for funding from foundations and corporate match programs.
Our process remains as simple and streamlined as ever. Attorneys apply for funds online, and our three-person panel reviews and responds to each request. We remain all-volunteer, which keeps overhead to pennies on the dollar, and we continue to respond to requests from lawyers on behalf of their clients all across Oregon.
About Sara Snyder
Our organization is named in honor of Sara Snyder, who was a criminal defense lawyer in Portland with a passion for protecting the powerless. Her contributions to the field of criminal defense remain influential, and her keen sense of justice continues to inspire our efforts.
Sarah worked in private practice as a capital defender for the state of Oregon and as a staff attorney for Metropolitan Public Defender in the Washington and Multnomah county offices. She served on the board of the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association from 2016 to 2018.
— Sara D. Snyder