How Video Call Costs Are Changing at Centinela (And How to Make the Most of Free Minutes)

The biggest change for Centinela families? The per-minute price of video calls. Under the new Securus contract, video calls cost $0.10 per minute - down from ViaPath's $0.16 per minute. Phone calls are cheaper too: $0.016 per minute under Securus versus $0.019 per minute under ViaPath, according to the same CDCR comparison chart.

Free time is also structured differently. ViaPath gives you 15 free video-call minutes every two weeks. Securus gives you 30 free minutes per month. Same total free time in a typical month - just a different reset schedule. The two-week window encourages shorter, more frequent calls. The monthly bucket gives you more flexibility to use your free minutes however you want.

• ✓ If you’re used to ViaPath, you’re planning around a 15-minute free allotment that refreshes every two weeks.
• ✓ Under Securus, you’ll plan around 30 free minutes that refresh each month.
• ✓ A monthly bucket makes it easier to use your free time in one longer call, or split it across shorter calls within the same month.

Here's what the numbers look like in practice. These examples use the listed video-call rates (ViaPath: $0.16/min, Securus: $0.10/min) and free-minute rules (ViaPath: 15 free minutes every two weeks; Securus: 30 free minutes per month). They show what you'd pay after free minutes are used up.

1. ViaPath: price the call - 15 minutes × $0.16/min = $2.40.
2. ViaPath: apply free minutes - 15 free minutes per two weeks can cover a 15-minute call, so $2.40 − $2.40 = $0.00.
3. Securus: price the call - 15 minutes × $0.10/min = $1.50.
4. Securus: apply free minutes - 30 free minutes per month can cover a 15-minute call, so $1.50 − $1.50 = $0.00.
5. Net difference - out-of-pocket cost is $0.00 either way when you have free minutes available.

1. ViaPath: price the call - 30 minutes × $0.16/min = $4.80.
2. ViaPath: apply free minutes - 15 free minutes per two weeks covers half the call: 15 paid minutes × $0.16/min = $2.40 out of pocket.
3. Securus: price the call - 30 minutes × $0.10/min = $3.00.
4. Securus: apply free minutes - 30 free minutes per month can cover a 30-minute call, so $3.00 − $3.00 = $0.00.
5. Net difference - $2.40 (ViaPath) vs $0.00 (Securus) for a 30-minute call when free minutes are available.

1. ViaPath: price the call - 60 minutes × $0.16/min = $9.60.
2. ViaPath: apply free minutes - 15 free minutes per two weeks reduces the paid portion to 45 minutes: 45 × $0.16/min = $7.20 out of pocket.
3. Securus: price the call - 60 minutes × $0.10/min = $6.00.
4. Securus: apply free minutes - 30 free minutes per month reduces the paid portion to 30 minutes: 30 × $0.10/min = $3.00 out of pocket.
5. Net difference - $7.20 (ViaPath) vs $3.00 (Securus), a $4.20 lower out-of-pocket cost under Securus for a 60-minute call when free minutes are available.

Once Centinela switches to Securus, you'll get 30 free video minutes per month. Think ahead about how you want to use them - one longer call or a few shorter check-ins - so you don't burn through them early in the month. Also, plan for the account switch. You'll need to set up a Securus online account to receive video calls and use electronic messaging once those services go live.

• ✓ Confirm when Centinela transitions to Securus so you know when the pricing and free-minute rules apply.
• ✓ Open a Securus online account ahead of time so you’re ready to receive video calls and use electronic messaging once Centinela switches.
• ✓ Plan your calls around the 30-minutes-per-month free allotment (one 30-minute call, or split minutes across shorter calls).

These cost changes take effect once Centinela State Prison switches from ViaPath to Securus. According to the rollout schedule, Centinela's phone transition was tentatively set for 4/6, with tablets switching over 4/8–4/10.