What to Expect During Centinela's Tablet Exchange Days (April 8–10)
Centinela State Prison is switching tablets over a three-day window (tentatively April 8–10), and that change can disrupt calls, video visits, and messages. Here's what to expect and how to avoid surprises.
Centinela's tablet transition is scheduled for April 8–10 (tentative). During this window, incarcerated people will turn in their ViaPath tablet and receive a new Securus tablet. If you rely on video calls or e-messages, expect a short adjustment period while the facility switches systems.
Note: CDCR says transition dates are tentative and could change, and intermittent outages can happen during the switch.
CDCR warns there may be intermittent outages during the transition. Messages might not go through right away, video calls could fail to connect, and there may be temporary gaps while systems are moved over. If you don't hear back when you expect to, it's likely a transition hiccup - not a problem specific to your loved one.
Caller ID heads-up: CDCR notes that caller ID will change when an institution transitions to Securus. If you screen unknown numbers, be ready for calls to show up under a new caller ID once Centinela has switched.
Here's what trips people up: incarcerated people keep using ViaPath until their institution transitions. Once it does, families need to switch to Securus. During the exchange days, you might hit a "before/after" moment where what worked last week doesn't match what you need next week. To be ready for video calls and messaging after the switch, open a Securus online account now. Even if things are spotty during the exchange window, having your account set up makes it easier to reconnect once the transition is complete.
- ✓ Open a Securus online account so you’re ready for video calls and electronic messaging after Centinela transitions.
- ✓ If you have a scheduled video call around the exchange window, double-check that it still makes sense after the transition.
- ✓ Build in a backup plan for April 8–10 in case an outage interrupts a call or message.
On the incarcerated person's side, the change is simple: they turn in the ViaPath tablet and receive a Securus tablet. If you're trying to time an important video visit or message, confirm whether your loved one has already exchanged devices. That's usually the moment communication shifts from ViaPath to Securus.
If something seems stuck well after the exchange window, contact Centinela State Prison directly at (760) 337-7900. The address is 2302 Brown Road, Imperial, CA 92251.
For broader rollout updates and any last-minute changes to the schedule, check CDCR’s tablet transition updates for Centinela’s listing (including the tentative April 8–10 dates).
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