Community Resourcing
Resource those you love - or yourself - to navigate the criminal legal system. This section includes information on bail release programs, peer groups, mental health supports, and prisoner programs/advocacy groups that are accessible to those living in the Hamilton, ON area.
The section is divided in to:
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For legal clinics and learning hubs, check out our section on “legal resourcing”.
System-Based Resources
These are resources provided by large organizations that are reasonably well-funded, and operate with a service-sector system. You may face barriers having your needs met if you are racialized or disabled, but they can be a reasonable place to start.
Some organizations have strong ties to the criminal legal system itself. We have them flagged here for you - but we encourage you to ask any organization about the ways in which they work directly or indirectly with police or courts.
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John Howard Society / Elizabeth Fry Society​
JHS and EFS are non-profit organizations that work with people who have been criminalized. Elizabeth Fry specifically serves women, trans, and non-binary people, however E-fry’s Hamilton area office was recently closed. John Howard now takes on clients of all genders and ages.
JHS offers help with bail planning, including providing supervised bail programs when you don’t have a surety. They also offer a significant amount of programming and information for adults and youth who have been criminalized, as well as support programming for their families.
Programming includes things like anger management to complete diversion or probation processes, special programming for youth with Fetal Alcohol Effects, and transportation programs to help family visit prisons in the Warkworth & Kingston areas.
Banyan Community Services has different programs for youth who are in contact with the youth justice system and their families. Their Counselling and Assessment program provides brief counselling services for young people aged 12 to 18 that are currently on probation. They also offer a court worker program to help youth through court, as well as reintegration programming and counselling for individuals of sexual assaults, and family mediation and alternative dispute resolution.
Justice for Children and Youth
For youth in need of legal advice. JFCY provides referrals, legal education, case service, and test case litigation for children and young people under 18 years old in Ontario. If you are homeless and under the age of 25, you are also eligible for their services. 1-866-999-5329.
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Black Table Talk
Black Table Talk is a series of weekly youth led workshops that explore the nuances of mental health and healing for Black communities through an anti-oppression lens. "We hope to offer a space for Black youth to have informed discussion about anti-Blackness, wellness, stigma, and more while sharing resources, support and coping together. Each workshop will be accompanied by a drop-in peer support group where youth can freely express themselves and build connections in a safe space that is carved out especially for Black youth between the ages of 13 to 25." Run through St. Joseph's Hospital. Contact banaga@stjoes.ca
The Hub’s Youth Program provides supports and services to those 17 to 25 including justice services support, justice circles/alternative justice practises, accompaniment, crisis intervention, mediation and drop-in programming.
Youth Wellness Centre
At the Youth Wellness Centre, you will be connected with a mental health professional who will work with you to help you understand the mental health challenges you are facing. Together, you will create a plan that might include services at the Youth Wellness Centre (like participating in a group to learn coping skills or meeting with one of our Youth Mentors), or help to access programs and services in the community. Access to substance use counselling is also available through a partnership with Alternatives for Youth, who are located in the same space as the Youth Wellness Centre.
38 James St. South, Second Floor | 905-522-1155 ext. 31725 | YWCIntake@stjoes.ca
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AYP offers programming and education for youth who use substances or have mental health concerns. They also offer treatment for youth who have been impacted by others’ in their lives using substances, such as friends, partners or family.
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Speqtrum is a program of YWCA Hamilton that is youth-founded and youth-focused. Speqtrum focuses on skill-sharing and community building for 2S-LGBTQIA+ young people in Hamilton. They aim to build community among 2S-LGBTQIA+ youth by offering a variety of programs and supports. They provide online one-on-one support through weekly Check-Ins and Peer Support, where speqtrum team members support youth through different challenges in life.​ info@speqtrum.ca
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For Indigenous Folks​
Indigenous folks may be able to access court worker programs, systems navigation help, counselling, ceremony, peer and other support groups through their local friendship centre and, when available, through Indigenous health centres and service hubs.
De Dwa Da Dehs Nye S - Aboriginal Health Centre
De Dwa Da Dehs Nye S Aboriginal Health Centre offers a variety of Mental Health & Addictions Services. | 905-544-4320 (Hamilton) | 519-752-4340 (Brantford) | 289-438-1540 (Niagara)
The Native Women’s Centre (NWC) provides services for Indigenous women in Hamilton, including conflict resolution, peer support, systems navigation, and much more. NWC also has a crisis line for Indigenous women that’s available 24/7. Call them at 1-888-308-6559.
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Hamilton Regional Indian Centre (HRIC)
HRIC offers many different programs and services. If you are looking for an Indigenous court worker, support groups, and other culturally-specific resources in Hamilton, this is the place to go. 905-548-9593. If you’re outside of Hamilton, visit the Ontario Federation Of Indigenous Friendship Centres to find your local friendship centre.​
Community-Based Supports
This is a list of smaller community-run and based groups that aim to build relationships with those they work with. Most people you interact with from groups here will have a deeper understanding of the criminal legal system and oppression, more broadly. They can provide various support to youth or adults who are or have been criminalized in the Hamilton area.
The Prison Project at the Disability Justice Network of Ontario (DJNO) aims to hear, document, provide support to, and amplify the experiences of individuals who have been imprisoned and live at the intersection of being racialized and disabled. The Prison Project runs prisoner support lines throughout Ontario, and actively push against policing and prison systems through education and community organizing. All team members are prison abolitionists who believe in care and a community-centred approach to accountability and justice.
DJNO Prison Project
423 King St E,
Hamilton, ON L8N 1C5
Barto Prisoner Solidarity
BPS is an abolition group that aims to reduce the isolation that prison walls creates through various means. They work specifically with people incarcerated at Barton Jail in Hamilton, Ontario.
​bartonsolidarityproject@riseup.net
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Criminalization and Punishment Education Project
CPEP aims to connect various community members with individuals who have been impacted by criminalization and works to educate and advocate.​ cpep.action@gmail.com
Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion
HCCI is a grassroots organization that works with and for those who have marginalized identities, providing peer support, programming, and mentorship. Those involved have deep and personal understandings of the barriers individuals face in the criminal legal system, and work/organize to dismantle systems of oppression. This would be a great place to go or be in touch with if you are racialized and looking for a more personal and deeper understanding/support that is relationally-based, and not a therapeutic relationship.​ info@hcci.ca | 905-297-4694
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PASAN is a community-based prisoner health and harm reduction organization that provides support, education and advocacy to prisoners and ex-prisoners across Canada. They also produce a magazine called CELL COUNT, made by, for, and about prisoners and ex-prisoners.
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PASAN - Cell Count
526 Richmond Street East
Toronto, ON M5A 1R3
416-920-9567 or 1-866-224-9978
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Rittenhouse: A New Vision is a community-based conflict mediation, education, advocacy and support for prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families and our communities.
Rittenhouse: A New Vision
Holy Trinity Radical Community Organizing Hub
6 Trinity Square
Toronto, ON, M5G 1B1
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Incarcerated Voters of Ontario
IVO is a prisoner advocacy group doing work around prisoner rights and justice.
Incarcerated Voters of Ontario
P.O. Box 39518
Mississauga, ON L5G 4S6
Justice Trans is a not-for-profit aimed at increasing access to justice for the transgender community across Canada. Their website offers legal information and other resources, including their guide JusticeTrans Resources for Support & Wellbeing, which details supports available to trans folks province-by-province.
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This external list (sourced from Call Bubbie) offers a variety of peer support groups accessible for free, and online, for individuals who are Black, Indigenous, Queer, Trans, Autistic or Neurodivergent and those struggling with their mood.​
Supports for Family
Canadian Families and Corrections Network (CFCN)
For family and kin affected by the incarceration of a loved one. CFCN does advocacy and push for policy change, publishes information booklets and storybooks for kids, conduct research, and offer unique programs and support groups.
Mothers Offering Mutual Support Ottawa (MOMS Ottawa)
MOMS Ottawa is an Ottawa-based peer support group for women with loved ones in prison - but open to anyone within Canada with a loved one inside prison. They meet monthly to share practical information and advice about the justice and corrections process.​
Programs by and for Prisoners
Cell count is a magazine made by current and past prisoners, for current and past prisoners. You can make submissions (drawings, writings, etc.) by mailing them to the address below, or by calling (they accept collect calls). Prisoners can get the magazine sent to them in prison by writing/calling PASAN/Cell Count, or by getting someone outside to sign you up on their online form.
PASAN- Cell Count
526 Richmond Street East
Toronto, ON M5A 1R3
416-920-9567 or 1-866-224-9978
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Books and community care for those affected by incarceration in so-called Ottawa and beyond. @incarcerationbooks
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Books to Prisoners Ottawa shares donated reading materials to incarcerated individuals and promotes social justice campaigns in Canada. They are a volunteer run, donation based group that works with community partnerships locally with provincial institutions at OCDC, William E Hay, Collins Bay, Bath, Port-Cartier, CSC institutions from BC to the Maritime's as well as respond to individuals books requests.
OPIRG-Carleton
326 UniCenter
Carleton University
Ottawa, ON. K1S 5B6
(613) 520-2757
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Out of Bounds is a quarterly magazine written for and by prisoners across Canada. Published by Penal Press.
Out of Bounds Magazine
6000 William Head Rd
Victoria, BC V9C 0B5​​