Toronto Prisoners Rights Project

​We are a group of activists and service providers who are organizing campaigns and mobilizing support for prisoners. We are committed to prison abolition as a long-term vision and use it as a guiding principle in our prisoner justice work. 

All of us are volunteers. Your contributions help to expand and resource our advocacy. 

Learn more about our current campaigns: 

Let Us Talk: Give Ontario Prisoners Access to Free Phone Calls

For many prisoners in Ontario and across Canada, phone calls cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars each month, and collect calls can only be made to people who have landlines and the ability to cover the cost. In June 2020, Bell’s contract with the Ministry of Solicitor General is up for renewal. Our campaign is calling for a contract that ensures:

(1) Free calling for prisoners;
(2) Direct calls to cell phones and lines with switchboards; and
(3) The elimination of 20-minute cut off on calls.

Access to telecommunications is a lifeline for prisoners; it is their connection to their loved ones, mental health and health care providers, lawyers, and other community supports. Without these supports, many incarcerated people experience isolation, disconnection, poverty, and mental health challenges - which can create barriers to community reintegration upon release. Inside prisons, this lack of communication contributes to self-harm, violence, and preventable death.

Our campaign uses direct action to fight for fair telecommunications for prisoners. We organize a weekly Email and Social Media ZAP which you can join at https://cp-ep.org/prison-phones/ 

Contain COVID-19, Not People

Incarcerated people are at a disproportionate risk of contracting COVID-19. Unsanitary conditions, close quarters, frequent physical contact, and the underlying chronic health conditions of many detained people, contributes to the spread of the virus and threatens the well being of prisoners and public health.

Our campaign uses direct action and awareness campaigns to ensure prisoners are not left behind in our response to the spread of the virus. We organize open letter campaigns and regular webinars to offer education about what is happening with prisoners during the crisis and provide avenues for supporters to engage with advocacy. You can view the webinars on our partner organizations’ Facebook pages (see below)

Partner Organizations:

Toronto Prisoners Rights Project 
Facebook, Twitter: @LetsTalkJails

Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy
Facebook, Twitter & Instagram: @CSSDPRyerson

Criminalization and Punishment Education Project
Facebook, Twitter: @CPEPgroup & Instagram: @cpep.group


What does your support mean? 

All funds collected will be used to support our advocacy for prison abolition and prisoner justice.

Thank you for support.