What to expect during Deuel’s tablet rollout: outages, tablet exchanges, and timing

CDCR's statewide tablet transition runs from February 2025 through April 2026. The shift follows CDCR awarding a new telecommunications contract to Securus Technologies on February 21, 2025. During the transition, CDCR is keeping an interim agreement with ViaPath so people can continue using that platform until their specific institution switches over. Translation: the state is running in "mixed mode" for a while. Some facilities are still on ViaPath, others have already moved to Securus - it depends on where your loved one is housed.

CDCR warns that each institution will experience intermittent outages during the tablet transition. That means short periods where services don't work as expected - right when you're trying to send a message, place a call, or rely on the tablet for communication. Since the rollout dates are tentative, the "bumpy" window can shift too. If you're planning something time-sensitive - a call you really don't want to miss - build in extra flexibility around Deuel's expected transition period. Be ready for last-minute changes.

When Deuel transitions, CDCR requires a device swap: incarcerated people turn in their ViaPath tablet and receive a new Securus tablet. That exchange marks the moment the platform changes for families too - once an institution transitions, you'll need to use Securus going forward. The day-to-day logistics - when exactly the exchange happens, how quickly devices get issued, how the institution stages it - are handled locally. What's certain is the requirement itself: ViaPath tablets get turned in, Securus tablets get issued.

Confirm

• ✓ Check CDCR’s tablets webpage for the facility rollout schedule and look for Deuel’s line - then treat the date as tentative.
• ✓ Re-check the schedule right before you plan around it (especially if you’re coordinating a call or message that matters).
• ✓ If you’re seeing conflicting info, follow Securus’s direction to use the CDCR tablets webpage for the implementation schedule and cost information.

Tips

• ✓ Assume there may be intermittent outages during the transition window, and avoid timing anything urgent to a single day or hour.
• ✓ Remind your loved one that the tablet must be exchanged - turning in the ViaPath tablet and receiving a Securus tablet is part of the process.
• ✓ If you’re trying to stay in touch during the changeover, plan for a short gap where messaging or calls may be unreliable.
• ✓ Keep expectations realistic during the swap: if service is down, it’s usually temporary, and it can take time for everything to stabilize after the exchange.