Preserve photos & messages — and request refunds — before Deuel Vocational Institution’s tablet switch
If your loved one is at Deuel Vocational Institution (DVI), take a few minutes now to protect what you've purchased through ViaPath and handle any unused balances before the tablet switch.
CDCR is switching statewide from ViaPath to Securus Technologies for tablets and related services. To avoid service interruptions during the changeover, CDCR secured an interim agreement with ViaPath. Institution transitions are rolling out on a public timeline from February 2025 through April 2026.
Here's the bottom line: purchases you made through ViaPath won't carry over to the new Securus tablets. Wait too long, and you could lose access to things you paid for. CDCR also expects intermittent outages during each institution's transition, and the posted dates are tentative - all the more reason to handle preservation and refund requests now.
Photos, e-messages, and media purchased through ViaPath won't transfer to the new Securus tablets. If you want to keep anything you bought on ViaPath, you'll need to preserve it separately before the switch.
During the transition, incarcerated people will turn in their ViaPath tablet and receive a new Securus one. Expect some bumps along the way - CDCR warns of intermittent outages at each institution, and rollout dates are tentative. Messaging and other services may take time to feel normal again.
Heads up: Once an institution transitions, families need to use Securus. But if your loved one transfers to a facility still on ViaPath, you'll need to switch back to ViaPath until that facility transitions.
- Check whether you’re refunding a family balance or your loved one’s balance - these are handled differently.
- Request a refund for your family’s unused ViaPath balance through the ViaPath call center - CDCR’s guidance is that families can ask ViaPath for refunds this way.
- Know what happens to your loved one’s unused ViaPath balance - CDCR says incarcerated people’s unused balances will be refunded automatically to their trust accounts.
- Watch for ViaPath’s posted instructions - CDCR indicates instructions will be available on ViaPath’s website, so follow their process if additional steps or forms are required.
Timing tip: Outages can happen during the transition, and rollout dates may shift. If you run into delays or errors while requesting refunds, try again - and keep your documentation.
Preserve Photos Msgs
- ✓ Check your ViaPath account for any purchased photos, e-messages, and media you want to keep, since that content will not transfer to Securus.
- ✓ Contact the ViaPath call center and ask what options exist to preserve or retrieve purchased content tied to your account.
- ✓ Look for any preservation or instruction notices posted by ViaPath (CDCR indicates instructions will be available on ViaPath’s website).
- ✓ If you can’t preserve content right away, document what you purchased (order details, dates, and any receipts) so you can reference it when you speak with ViaPath.
- ✓ Save screenshots of key purchase details in your ViaPath account, especially for items that matter most to your family.
Prioritize the irreplaceable: Start with photos and messages you paid for on ViaPath - those won’t move to the new Securus tablets.
Before you plan around the change, confirm Deuel's rollout date on CDCR's tablets rollout schedule. The statewide timeline runs February 2025 through April 2026, but dates are tentative and could shift. Securus directs families back to CDCR's tablets page for current implementation details.
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