Phone Calls and Messaging at Wasco State Prison

Voice Calls Are Free

California made all outgoing voice calls from its state prisons free on January 1, 2023, ending the old system where families paid per-minute rates to accept collect calls. There’s no cost to you or the incarcerated person for a standard phone call, and nothing to set up or fund for voice calls specifically.

How Calls Work

The incarcerated person places calls from housing-unit phones during allowed hours. You cannot call into the prison and be connected to a specific person. Each call is limited to 15 minutes, after which the person can place another call if a phone is free. The phone system is run by the state’s contracted provider, and the person dials from their own PIN.

Calls Are Monitored and Recorded

Assume every call is monitored and recorded, which is standard across CDCR. The one exception is calls to a properly registered legal number, which are not recorded. Attorneys can have their number registered as confidential legal contact through the institution.

Tablets, Video, and Messaging

Incarcerated people at CDCR institutions have access to tablets that add video visits and electronic messaging on top of free voice calls. These tablet services are billed separately from the free voice calls. Wasco no longer offers in-person video visiting in the visiting room, but tablet-based video may still be available depending on the current provider and program status.

The ViaPath to Securus Transition

CDCR is moving its tablet, video, and e-message service from ViaPath Technologies to Securus Technologies, one institution at a time, on a rollout running through 2026. Because the switchover date differs by prison, the correct app and account setup for Wasco depends on which provider is live there right now. Call the institution at (661) 758-8400 to confirm the current provider before you download an app or create an account, so you don’t set up the wrong one.

Blocking or Unblocking a Number

If a number needs to be blocked or unblocked, or if your number isn’t accepting calls, contact the phone provider’s customer support once you’ve confirmed whether Wasco is on ViaPath or Securus. The institution can tell you which provider handles the account.

Troubleshooting a Failed Call

If calls aren’t going through, the most common causes are a phone carrier that blocks prison calls, a number that hasn’t been set up to receive them, or an account issue on the provider’s side. Confirm your number can accept the calls, and contact the current provider’s support line. If you’re not sure which provider Wasco uses, call the institution first.