Supporting Someone in Prison
Prisons are abhorent places to be, where abuse, neglect, disease, mental health issues (new or old), and injury are common and rampant. Supporting someone through their experience - with advoacy or event just being an ear - can sometimes make the difference between life and death.
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There are many ways to support your person - from financial support, to accessibility and health advocacy, to helping resource them, to being an ear. Check in with them about what type of support they might like - and never underestimate the impact of consistently showing up for someone you care about!
Visiting
Visiting your person while they're in prison can be exceptionally important. Prisons are dehumanizing and isolating. Visiting is a powerful way to show your person they are cared for, and still matter. Do not underestimate the impact of you showing up - even if your person still seems sad, withdrawns, or even angry.
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Check the visiting hours before attending, and make sure you don't bring any drugs, weapons, or other illegal items. Be sure to attend at the beginning of a visiting window for the best chance of having a full visit.
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You can expect to leave all your belongings in a locker, usually where you first enter a facility's visiting area. Be sure to empty your pockets or you'll be sent back out of line.
Sometimes you can take a piece of paper or photo to show or give the person - but this depends on the circumstances and type of visiting that's happening. If you're trying to share an important phone number, you could write it on the palm of your hand to show them.
Depending on the facility, you may also be subjected to searches using a body scanner, metal detector, or drug-test swab kit.
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Most facilities now have no-contact visits that are either done through a video call system, or plexiglas. You will not be able to hug or touch the person you're visiting, or pass them any items. Some lower security settings still have face to face visits available.
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Phone Calls
Phone calls in provincial facilities are limited to 20 minutes, while Federal facilities are limited to 60 minutes. Phone calls can only be outgoing - you can't call someone in prison.
The Ontario provincial facilities have recently begun switching to a new phone system that allows collect calls to cell phones and landlines, however some cell phone companies do not accept collect calls. Check with your provider.
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Prisoners can move funds from their canteen in to their phone account to make calls, instead of calling collect, however any phone calls between inside and outside are expensive.
The cheapest way to make regular phone calls is through a Trap Call system (for example TRAPP Call, or Call2Talk). Trap call systems assign you a phone number local to the prison you're calling. Someone inside the prison can call that number collect, but instead of incurring collect call charges you pay the trap provider a lesser fee. Trap call systems can significantly reduce your bills.
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Prisoners can make calls to Legal Aid, the Ombudsman’s Office, Human Rights and select ministry-registered inmate support agencies are free.
Phone calls to prisoners can be monitored, so don't discuss anything illegal or about any charges the individual might be facing. Three-way calls are also prohibited - they may get disconnected.
Letter Writing
If you know someone inside prison, write them! If you don't, find someone to write anyway! There are a number of political prisoners all over the world often requesting friendly pen-pals.
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Letter writing can be a good way to stay in touch with someone you care about, and is possibly the most cost-efficient. Individuals in custody receive paper, envelopes and stamps for two letters each week.
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When you do write someone, expect it to take several weeks to be processed. Your letters will be opened and read by staff and potentially shared with police, so don't discuss anything you wouldn't talk about in front of the cops. Sometimes staff will not let letters through that discuss prison organizing or anti-police.
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Some prisoners are allowed a certain number of photos or drawings, while others aren't. Sometimes you can only use black or blue ink. Call the individual facility if you have questions.
Canteen
Canteen is where prisoners can purchase some goods while in prison, with funds from their prisoner trust accounts.
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A prisoner trust account is opened for each person who is detained in jail, or sentenced to custody. Any funds an individual has on them at the time of their intake in to prison is added in to their trust account. Funds can also be added by attending the facility in-person, or in some facilities, using an online deposit system.
Items available in canteen include things like shower slippers, brand name toiletries, books, magazines, and snacks. Items can be quite limited, and the prices are extremely inflated. Don't expect funds to go as far inside prison as they do outside prison.
Books & Magazines
You cannot send books or magazines directly to prisoners within Ontario. Sometimes you can have books or magazines sent to prisoners directly from the publisher - but this is most often only allowed after sentencing and not in detention centres. Call the individual facility to find out what is allowed or not, as options can also vary throughout the province.
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You can also reach out to Books for Prisoners programs in your area. Sometimes these organizations have built connections with specific facilities to get books inside.
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A limited selection of books and magazines is available for purchase through canteen - so topping up your person's funds is also a good way for them to access some things to pass the time.
NYE Demos
New Years Eve is often a time when abolitionist prisoner support groups organize "prison noise demos". This usually looks like people gathering outside a facility, making noise and setting off fireworks to let prisoners know they haven't been forgotten.
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Some cities have this as a regular NYE occurance and others don't. Events aren't always promoted publicly - but keep your eyes out and feel free to organize your own local demo!