Dallas resident, Daron Babcock, is paving the way to change for previously incarcerated individuals who are burdened by fines on their journey to reenter society.
On May 18, it was announced that House Bill 569, also being referred to as the “Bonton Farms Bill” was passed by Texas legislators and is on the way to the governor for approval. Scott Sanford, Texas representative for District 70, offered thanks to those who assisted in the bill’s passing via Twitter.
“Thank you @SenRoyceWest for your help getting the @BontonFarms bill across the finish line! #txlege,” Sanford said.Â
Bonton Farms in South Dallas is a former dumpsite transformed, where new, nourishing life springs from the soil. The farm gives those looking for a second chance, a place to work while they continue to grapple with how to pay their debts back to society after being released.Â
The bill was first presented by Bonton Farms Founder Daron Babcock to an Austin committee. Its objective is to help alleviate incurred fines for minor offenses prior to incarceration.
“What I see are men and women come home from incarceration, and have the will sucked out of them,” Babcock said in a statement to Fox 4.Â
Fox 4 also interviewed one of Babcock’s employees, Darius Lee, who opened up about the struggle of trying to navigate how to get some of his freedoms back.
“It just knocked me back down. It was so discouraging,” he said. “I felt that I had paid my debt, and to get out and find out that I had an even bigger debt.”
The passing of the bill gives hope that those who feel discouraged by their dues, won’t turn back to going back into the system. Rather, they will be encouraged to become productive members of their communities and fulfilling lives.Â
