CDCR is changing its communications provider. Here's what actually matters for families.
In February 2025, CDCR awarded its communications contract to Securus after a court ruling vacated the prior ViaPath contract. Fire camps have already switched; state prisons began transitioning in 2026, facility by facility, and the rollout is still in progress. Your loved one's facility may be on either system right now.
Photos, e-messages, and media do not transfer between systems. Before a facility's switch date, the incarcerated person can print their own content from their tablet or a kiosk — but family members cannot request this for them. If their facility hasn't switched yet, tell them to back up anything they want to keep now.
Based on CDCR's own comparison, Securus pricing is generally lower than ViaPath's for video calls, e-messages, and photos. If you've budgeted for staying in touch, costs should improve after your facility transitions — but confirm current rates in whichever app your facility uses.
CDCR maintains the transition schedule and current status on its official Tablets & Telephones page — that's the source to trust, since dates have shifted during the rollout:
Transition dates change — check CDCR's live page for your facility's current provider and switch date.
CDCR Tablets & Telephones page →Setting up accounts, sending money for calls, and messaging all happen through the provider's own app (Securus or ViaPath/GettingOut) — not through this site or CDCR directly.