OCDC PJD Release Camp

List of Needed Items/Donations

6 and 10 August 2022

This document is at the same time a call for donations (financial or in-kind) and a breakdown of the budget needed to make the PJD Release Camp possible. Please note that we are aiming to support 25 people being released and 25 people visiting their kids, parents and/or loved ones at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre (OCDC) and the Ottawa Courthouse. Please visit this link for a complete description of the PJD Release Camp. The PJD Release Camp is organized by the Justice for Anthony Aust Collective (J4AAC), the Jail Accountability and Information Line (JAIL Hotline), and the Criminalization and Punishment Education Project (CPEP).

Our current target budget is $29,855. Out of this budget, only $930 will go towards the logistics of organizing the PJD Release Camp. $12,500 will go directly to the pockets of people being released in cash form. $5,000 will go towards renting two apartments for a month to provide temporary and emergency shelter for criminalized people who need housing, pending long-term and stable options. $11,425 will go towards purchasing the items needed by those released based on the requests of people incarcerated at OCDC and our extensive experience providing Release Packs. We need all the support we can get!!!

We will only be distributing a $250 financial support to each of the 25 visitors. On the other side, we will provide 25 people being released from custody a $250 stipend as well as the items mentioned below. We are accepting monetary and in-kind donations of items. Please note that the more cost we are able to offset through items donations, the more money will end up directly in the pockets of our released neighbours. We therefore encourage both monetary and items donations. Please see the items list below and email jailhotline@gmail.com to arrange pickups/drop-offs if you are able to support.

Money can be either sent through e-transfers, cheques, cash, or via GoFundMe. Please send e-transfers to jailhotline@gmail.com with a note that says: Release Camp and please use the following password: Prisoners

Cheques can be issued to the following recipient: JAIL Hotline c/o Journal of Prisoners on Prisons and mailed to the following address: 120 University Private, Room 14049, Ottawa ON K1N 6N5. 

We are accepting cash donations as well in the following cities: so-Called Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. If you wish to give cash, please email jailhotline@gmail.com to set up a drop-off or DM @JusticeForAnthonyAust onInstagram OR @CPEPgroup on Instagram and Facebook, and @jail_line on Twitter.

GoFundMe donations can be made through this GoFundMe page.

Scroll to the bottom of this document for a breakdown of this budget on a spreadsheet for a more simplified version of the budget.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Breakdown of Budget:

1. Financial support for 25 people being released from custody (we budgeted $6,250 for this purpose, $250 per person): we established this amount at the request of people incarcerated at OCDC. It's not nearly enough but we will be conducting interviews with people coming out of jail and organizing fundraisers for them to meet their needs.
2. Financial support for 25 families and loved ones visiting people in custody (we budgeted $6,250 for this purpose, $250 per person): the majority of criminalized people come from poor socio-economic backgrounds. The financial strain incarceration puts on the families of incarcerated people is usually unbearable. The PJD Release Camp aims to offer some support to these families. We stress that we are engaged in this work as a daily practice that is not limited to this Camp. For more information about the adverse and violent impacts of incarceration on families, please visit https://www.prisonricochet.ca/en/bienvenue-2/
3. House rental to house release people who have no or no safe housing to go to (we budgeted $5,000 for this purpose): we aim to rent two apartments at 4 to 6 people coming out of jail for one month. We usually put people up in hotels and motels at a great cost (at least $100/night OR $3,000/month). It became increasingly pricey to find and put people in hotels/motels as the high summer season made it increasingly expensive and hard to find temporary safer shelter. Besides, housing is one of the main barriers for criminalized people and a leading cause that endangers them and puts them in harm's way. Instead of providing housing for everyone, the state continuously violates its own standards of rights and freedoms as housing has been considered a human right according to colonial courts and system. We do not believe in the state as a protective entity. Quiet the opposite: it's a vehicle of unhindered and normalized violence. Only us keep each other safe. Please help us in our struggle.
4. Cigarette Cartons for 25 people (we budgeted $750 for this purpose, $30 per carton per person): tobacco is increasingly unaffordable and our kin leave jail unable to buy it.
5. Toiletries and sunscreen for 25 people (we budgeted $750 for this purpose, $30 per person):

• Shampoos for straight, curly, and kinky hair.
• Conditioners for straight, curly, and kinky hair.
• Body washes for all skin types and for sensitive skin.
• Lotions/moisturizers for all skin types and rich ones for very dry skin
• Loofahs (preferably natural, non-plastic ones for sustainability)
• Sunscreens for body and for face: we need to make sure our friends coming out of jail, sometimes after months/years of being deprived by the jail regular access to yard and sunshine.

6. Phones (unlocked), chargers, headphones, and phone plans for 25 people (we budgeted $3,750 for this purpose.) Receiving phone donations would decrease our budget drastically. Please make sure the phones are smart phones in good working condition): communication is of the utmost importance for survival and making sure released people can reach their loved ones, the services they direly need to access, and coordinate their lives.
7. Backpacks for 25 people, new or gently used only (we budgeted $625 for this purpose, $25 per backpack per person): this will help folks to carry the starter pack items and other purposes.
8. Socks and underwear for 25 people. ONLY NEW ITEMS (we budgeted $500 for this purpose, $20 per person)

• For men, women, trans and non-binary folks:

• boxers, shorts, bras, sports bras, incontinence underwear, panties, etc.
• high and low cotton socks and wool socks of different sizes

9. Monthly bus passes (we budgeted $3,500 for this purpose, $140 per person per pass): mobility is of utmost importance for those exiting incarceration. PJD Release Camp comrades will be providing people being released rides to wherever they need to get. However, we need to make sure people can continue having access to a form or the other of transportation so they can get places, get to safety, flee unsafe situations, make their appointments, etc.
10. Wellness/medicine (we budgeted $125 for this purpose, $10 per person): the state inflicts tremendous amount of trauma on imprisoned people. We would like to make sure our kin have a little treat that helps them mentally and/or physically.
11. Hats new or gently used (we budgeted $375 for this purpose, $15 per hat per person): with this heat wave affecting people around the world, it is important folks to be able to protect themselves from the sun.
12. Reusable Water Bottles new items only (we budgeted $150 for this purpose, $6 per bottle per person): we will be distributing filtered water to folks coming out and need reusable bottles.
13. Drinks for 25 people plus 15 comrades (we budgeted $140 for this purpose, $3.50 per person): we will distribute these drinks at the PJD Release Camp:

• Regular or diet: Coke, Pepsi and other pop cans, juice boxes/bottles, sports drinks, etc.

14. Snacks for 25 people and 15 comrades (we budgeted $280 for this purpose, $7 per person)
15. Meals hot or cold trays for 25 people and 15 comrades (we budgeted $480 for this purpose, $12 per person): sharing food is sharing love. We would like folks coming out to have a meal. For that purpose we will cater from Greens & Beans who are already providing free meals from people coming out of jail and coordinating with the JAIL Hotline.
16. Logistical expenses:

• Gas for comrades to run errands and drive released people to where they need to get (we budgeted $200 for this purpose)

17. Printing (we budgeted $0 for this purpose because we have access to a printer)
18. Honorarium for speakers with lived experience (we budgeted $400 for 4 speakers, $100 per speaker): we are inviting speakers who are ex-prisoners or family members of people who died by incarceration.
19. Transportation for out-of-towners (we budgeted $250 for this purpose): we will be joined by two people from Tkaronto. One of them is an Indigenous person who supports people inside and the second is an Afro-Indigenous mother who lost her child to policing. We need these funds to cover two bus tickets.
20. Groceries: comrades will prepare home cooked meals for our guests who will be staying with us for 3 days.

Master Budget Spreadsheet:

Per-person Budget:

Logistical Costs: