How to send messages, photos, and packages
CDCR is moving institutions from ViaPath to Securus. Once Chowchilla State Prison transitions, you'll use Securus for all communications. Check the rollout schedule for tentative dates and expect possible outages during the switch. The good news: video visits drop to $0.10 per minute (from $0.16), and e-messages go from $0.05 to $0.03. Free monthly allowances also jump to 30 minutes of video and 20 e-messages. During the transition, incarcerated people turn in ViaPath tablets and receive Securus tablets. Photos, e-messages, and other media purchased on ViaPath won't transfer. If you have unused ViaPath funds, request a refund through ViaPath's call center. Incarcerated balances get refunded automatically. To use Securus video, you'll need to register and add funds.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
If your loved one is at Valley State Prison (Chowchilla), you can't mail a care package directly to them like you would to someone on the outside. CDCR's quarterly package program works through approved private vendors instead. You place an order with an authorized vendor, and they handle the shipment under CDCR's rules.
Rates drop under Securus: video calls cost $0.10 per minute instead of $0.16, and e-messages fall from $0.05 to $0.03.
No—photos, e-messages, and other media purchased through ViaPath won’t transfer to the new Securus tablets. If you have unused ViaPath funds, you can request a refund through ViaPath’s call center; incarcerated account balances are refunded automatically.
Register and add prepaid funds using AdvanceConnect (or the department's communications app), then enable video calling for Video Connect. Securus Video Connect is web-based—you can schedule and join sessions from an app, computer, or tablet.
Valley State Prison is switching from ViaPath to Securus as part of CDCR's rollout. Set up your Securus account and Video Connect now, and you'll be ready to accept video visits the moment the switch goes live.
To request a Victim Offender Dialogue (VOD) through CDCR, contact the Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS). Call 1-877-256-6877 or email OVSRS_VOD@cdcr.ca.gov. That first contact opens the door to the formal VOD intake process.
Valley State Prison is switching from ViaPath to Securus. A little prep now can save you from lost funds, missing content, and last-minute headaches. Here's what to do before the switch—and what to expect during the changeover.
