Date: February 7, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Taylor Koopman, PIO
269-383-8651
Kalamazoo County, Kalamazoo Community Foundation, City of Kalamazoo, and City of Portage Join Forces to Fund Indigent Equipment Program
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – In a collaborative effort, Kalamazoo County, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, the City of Kalamazoo, and the City of Portage have come together to fully fund the 2024 Indigent Equipment Program at $43,000.
“This initiative supports those facing financial challenges when they find themselves in need of essential electronic monitoring equipment,” said Ken Bobo, Office of Community Corrections Director. “Our goal is to eliminate barriers that exist for our community members and make reformation possible. The program has helped 47 people to date, who, if they had not been released via the program, would have likely spent a collective 5,417 days in jail.”
The financial support for the Indigent Equipment Program is a testament to the shared commitment of the partnering entities to improve accessibility for residents in need. Each contributor has played a crucial role in pooling resources for this important cause:
- Kalamazoo County: $13,000
- City of Kalamazoo: $7,000
- City of Portage: $3,000
- Kalamazoo Community Foundation: $20,000
“By supporting this fund, we can make sure that resources go directly to individuals who are not able to meet the economic requirements to secure their release from jail,” said Tshepo Mathekga, Community Impact Officer at KZCF. “We hope that more resources can be mobilized around the most critical needs affecting residents and that this resource will continue to meet the needs of families that experience economic barriers as they navigate the criminal justice system.”
85% of funding recipients successfully completed the program between February and July, and 95% since July after putting additional controls in place to account for those with an increased flight risk. Additionally, 71% of recipients identified as BIPOC and 64% of recipients were parents, allowing families to remain united.
For more information on the Indigent Equipment Program, please visit www.kalcounty.com/occ.
About Kalamazoo Community Foundation
KZCF, established in 1925, has the vision of Kalamazoo County being the most equitable place to live, with the mission to mobilize people, resources and expertise and to advance racial, social and economic justice. Learn more at kalfound.org.
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