How to Set Up and Manage an AdvanceConnect Account (what families should know)

This guide is for families and friends who want to pay for calls through a Securus AdvanceConnect prepaid account. Before setting anything up, confirm that Pickaway County Jail actually uses AdvanceConnect for the type of calls you need. Feature availability varies by facility, and you don't want to fund the wrong option.

What follows is a vendor-level walkthrough for Securus AdvanceConnect. The service can cover audio calls and, in some places, video calls - but what's actually available depends on what Pickaway County Jail has enabled.

An AdvanceConnect account is a prepaid calling account owned by you - the friend or family member. When your loved one places a collect call, the cost comes out of your prepaid balance automatically. No surprise bills, and you control how much you keep available.

Depending on the facility's setup, your AdvanceConnect balance can pay for both audio and video calls. The catch: the facility decides which services are turned on.

1. Create your AdvanceConnect prepaid account - Set up the friend-and-family account through Securus.
2. Add the phone number(s) you want your loved one to reach - You can add multiple numbers (home, work, cell, or other trusted contacts), so calls can ring where you actually answer.
3. Fund the account - Once money is on the account, collect-call charges can be deducted from your prepaid balance when calls come through.

Adding Funds Limits

• ✓ Credit/debit card (online)
• ✓ Credit/debit card (by phone)
• ✓ Western Union (where available)
• ✓ MoneyGram (where available)

Keep the per-transaction cap in mind: you can add up to $100.00 at a time. Need more than that? You'll have to split it into multiple transactions.

Budget for the total cost, not just the deposit. Call rates, taxes, and fees all apply on top of what you add.

Once your account is set up, you can manage it any time - 24/7/365 - through the Securus website or by phone. Check your balance, add funds, or review activity whenever you need to.

AdvanceConnect isn't just for phone calls. Where the facility supports it, the same account can fund video calls too. If video matters to you, confirm it's available at Pickaway County Jail before counting on it.

You may also hear about "Inbound Connect." This is a feature of AdvanceConnect that lets you connect using the Securus mobile app.

Practical Tips Next Steps

• ✓ Confirm Pickaway County Jail uses AdvanceConnect for the type of calls you want to receive (audio and/or video).
• ✓ Set up the account early, before you’re expecting an urgent call.
• ✓ Add every phone number you realistically answer (cell, home, work, or a trusted relative) so you don’t miss calls.
• ✓ Keep a small cushion in the balance so calls don’t fail mid-week.
• ✓ Store your login and any account details somewhere safe so you can manage the account quickly when you need to.