Set Up a Securus Account Before CMF’s Switch: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
If your loved one is at California Medical Facility (CMF), setting up a Securus account now saves you a scramble later—especially once CMF's transition dates arrive.
CMF is scheduled to transition phone service on 2/23, with tablets following on 2/26–2/27. Once the switch happens, families will need Securus to stay connected. Creating your account ahead of time means you won't be fighting the rush when everyone else is trying to set things up at once. CDCR has an interim agreement with ViaPath to prevent service interruptions during the changeover. The state awarded the new telecommunications contract to Securus Technologies, LLC on February 21, 2025, and institutions are moving over on a rolling schedule. The bottom line: don't wait until the week of the switch to start from scratch.
Note: CMF’s rollout dates are close together (2/23 for phones and 2/26–2/27 for tablets). Setting up your Securus account now helps you stay ready as the transition happens.
You can open a Securus account online or through the Securus mobile app. Even if you've never used Securus before, getting this done early puts you in position to connect once CMF completes its transition. For video calls, Securus Video Connect is web-based. You can schedule and join sessions using the free Securus app, or from any computer or tablet with internet access.
- Choose how you’ll sign up - Create your Securus account online or in the Securus mobile app.
- Create your account - Follow the prompts to enter your information and set your login.
- Verify and sign in - Complete any verification steps the system asks for, then log in so you’re ready when CMF switches.
Planning on video calls after CMF's transition? You'll need to handle two things inside the Securus app: funding and permission. First, use AdvanceConnect in the app to set up and add funds for prepaid video calls. Second, register for Video Connect and select
- ✓ Open the Securus app and tap AdvanceConnect to set up prepaid video calling
- ✓ Add funds in AdvanceConnect so you’re ready for prepaid video calls
- ✓ In the app, tap Video Connect and register
- ✓ During registration, select “Permitir videollamadas” (Allow video calls)
- ✓ Decide what device you’ll use for visits: the free Securus app, a computer, or a tablet (Video Connect is web-based)
Tip: If you can, fund AdvanceConnect ahead of time. It’s the in-app option Securus points families to for prepaid video calls, and having it ready helps you avoid missed connections during the switch.
Before CMF transitions, get your account to a "ready to use" state: logged in, settings checked, funding in place if you're planning video calls. You don't want to troubleshoot your first video visit while the system is changing over. Since Securus Video Connect is web-based, you have flexibility on call day. Join from the free Securus app, or use a computer or tablet - whatever works, as long as you have internet access.
- Create your Securus account - Use the website or the Securus mobile app so you’re set up before CMF transitions.
- Turn on video access - In the app, register for Video Connect and select “Permitir videollamadas” (Allow video calls).
- Pre-fund video calls - Use AdvanceConnect in the app to set up and add funds for prepaid video calls.
- Pick and test your device - Plan to join through the free Securus app, a computer, or a tablet so you’re comfortable using it when it counts.
Something not looking right - video not enabled, or unsure whether CMF has switched yet? Check CDCR's rollout updates first. CMF's phone transition is scheduled for 2/23, tablets for 2/26–2/27. Those dates are your reference points. Keep simple notes for yourself: the email you used, whether you registered for Video Connect, whether you added funds in AdvanceConnect. If you need to follow up later, having these details handy makes it much faster to figure out what's missing.
Note: CDCR has said it used an interim ViaPath agreement to avoid service interruptions while transitioning to the Securus contract awarded on February 21, 2025. That context can help if you’re trying to make sense of why the changeover happens in phases.
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