In Germany, Freiheitsfonds (The Freedom Fund) has bought around 850 people's freedom by paying the fines they cannot - incurred by travelling without a ticket on public transport.

At a cost of more than €800,000, they reckon they've saved the state around €12m, based on the estimated cost per day of keeping someone in prison.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66664823