High Desert State Prison Phone Calls

Voice Calls Are Free

Since January 1, 2023, CDCR has made all outgoing audio phone calls free for both incarcerated people and the families and friends they call. There’s no per-minute charge to worry about. Calls are limited to 15 minutes each, and it’s up to the incarcerated person to place the call. You can give them a number to call, but you can’t call in to them directly.

HDSP’s Current Tablet Provider: ViaPath

CDCR awarded a new statewide telecommunications contract to Securus Technologies in February 2025, after a court ruling vacated the prior contract with ViaPath Technologies. CDCR is rolling out the switch institution by institution instead of all at once. As of this guide’s last verification date, HDSP has not yet transitioned, so families should continue using ViaPath for video calls, e-messages, and other tablet features.

When HDSP Is Scheduled to Transition

CDCR’s published rollout schedule (as of June 4, 2026) lists HDSP’s phone system transitioning to Securus on July 27, 2026, with tablets following July 28 through July 31. CDCR notes these dates are tentative and could change, so if you’re reading this close to or after that window, call the institution at (530) 251-5100 to confirm which platform is currently active before assuming either provider.

What Changes Once the Transition Happens

Once HDSP switches, families will need to sign up with Securus at securustech.net/cdcr for video calls, e-messages, and tablet features. Securus offers lower per-minute costs on video calls and e-messages compared to ViaPath’s old rates, along with more free video minutes and e-messages included each month.

Content Won’t Transfer When the Switch Happens

When HDSP does transition, photos, e-messages, and other media on the ViaPath tablets won’t carry over to the new Securus tablets. Anyone who wants to keep copies of anything from their ViaPath tablet needs to print it from the tablet or a kiosk before the facility’s transition date. Family members cannot request these prints on the incarcerated person’s behalf.

Refunds and Balances After the Transition

Once transitioned, anyone with an unused ViaPath balance can request a refund through ViaPath’s call center. Any balance on the incarcerated person’s side is refunded automatically to their trust account.

If You Have Trouble

For current account or billing questions, contact whichever provider is active at HDSP at the time (ViaPath, or Securus once the switch happens). CDCR posts major outage notices on its website if there’s a service interruption during the transition period.