California Prison Communication Directory

California's correctional system is operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), one of the largest state prison systems in the United States with over 90,000 incarcerated people. Phone calls from all CDCR state prisons have been free since January 1, 2023 under Senate Bill 1008, the Keep Families Connected Act. Each call is limited to 15 minutes with no cap on the number of daily calls. You do not need to fund a prepaid account to receive calls from California state prisons.

California awarded a new $315 million telecommunications contract to Securus Technologies in February 2025, replacing ViaPath as the CDCR provider. The transition from ViaPath to Securus tablets began at fire camps and continued facility by facility through spring 2026. When a facility transitions, all ViaPath content including messages, photos, and media is permanently lost and does not transfer to Securus tablets. Families were advised to have their loved one print important messages or photos from the ViaPath tablet before the institution's transition date.

Although phone calls are free at California state prisons, messaging and streaming services on Securus tablets have associated costs. Securus was found to be charging more than the contracted rate per message shortly after the California transition began. After advocates complained, Securus issued a $10 credit to incarcerated people at the California Institution for Women. Families should check billing carefully and report discrepancies to CDCR or Securus customer service.