How to switch from ViaPath to Securus for CDCR calls and messages

CDCR is moving incarcerated communication services from ViaPath to Securus. If your loved one is in a CDCR facility, this affects how you pay for and receive phone calls and electronic messages. The impact depends on when your specific facility switches over.

CDCR says the move to Securus should mean lower costs for calls and e-messages. You don't need exact rates right now. What matters is getting set up so your communication doesn't get interrupted during the rollout.

1. Create your Securus account. CDCR’s guidance is clear that you should have a Securus account set up before your loved one’s facility transitions.
2. Make sure you can access it. If you already created an account in the past, confirm you can log in and recover your password now, not on the day you are trying to accept a call or send a message.

Timing varies by facility. CDCR directs families to its tablets page for the rollout schedule and FAQs. That's where you'll find the most current instructions for your loved one's facility. Checking official updates first helps you avoid following outdated vendor instructions or old screenshots shared online.

CDCR's announcement says to expect lower costs for calls and e-messages after the move to Securus. Costs still depend on the specific service you're using. Focus on getting your account ready first, then confirm current pricing through official CDCR and vendor information once your facility has transitioned.

Viapath Balance

• ✓ Check whether you have an unused balance with ViaPath.
• ✓ Use ViaPath’s help website to request a refund for unused ViaPath balances.
• ✓ Save any confirmation or case number you receive from the refund request.
• ✓ Keep an eye on CDCR-posted transition updates in case the process changes during the rollout.

Before you add money to any account or assume your setup is complete, verify the current instructions on official CDCR pages. Look for anything about timing for your facility and what CDCR expects families to do before the cutover. Don't be thrown off if you still see ViaPath branding in places you normally use for CDCR-related services. The CDCR visitation site currently shows a ViaPath copyright notice (2015–2026), even while CDCR is announcing the move to Securus. Branding on a page may lag behind operational changes. Treat CDCR-posted transition notices as your north star.