🗓 Updated: July 2026📞 Telecom & Tablets🕐 8 min read · 1350 words
Securus Technologies: Inmate Calls, Video Connect & eMessaging Guide (2026)
AllRecentArrests.us
· Published
· Updated
· 1350 words · 8 min read
If your loved one is held in a facility contracted with Securus Technologies, then Securus runs the phone calls, video visits, messages, and tablets that keep you connected. Along with ViaPath, Securus (owned by Aventiv Technologies) is one of the two companies that dominate correctional communications in the United States.
This guide covers what Securus is, the services it offers, how to open and fund a Securus Online account, how AdvanceConnect calling and Video Connect work, what things cost after the 2026 FCC rate reforms, and how to get help when a call or visit fails.
⚡ Quick Answer
Create a free Securus Online account at securustechnologies.com or in the Securus app, register your phone number, enroll in AdvanceConnect and add funds. Customer service is 1-800-844-6591 (24/7); Video Connect help is 972-734-1111. Confirm the facility uses Securus before paying — many jails instead use ViaPath, ICSolutions, or another vendor.
Who Securus Is
Securus Technologies is a major correctional communications provider owned by Aventiv Technologies (the same parent company as JPay). It holds contracts with many state departments of corrections and a large number of county jails. Together with ViaPath, Securus serves a very large share of incarcerated people in the country.
As with all these vendors, facilities sign exclusive contracts, so if your facility uses Securus, that is the system you must use — you cannot shop for a cheaper competitor. The advantage of Securus is that a single account, called Securus Online, becomes your gateway to every service the facility offers: calls, video, messaging, and tablet content.
Coverage: Nationwide across state DOCs and county jails. Available services vary by facility — some offer only phone calls, others the full video and tablet suite.
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Services Securus Provides
Phone Calls
AdvanceConnect prepaid calling funds the numbers an incarcerated person can dial; inmate debit uses their own balance.
Video Connect
Scheduled remote video visits from a phone, tablet, or computer using the free Securus app.
eMessaging
Electronic messages, photos, and (where enabled) short video attachments, purchased with "stamps."
Text Connect
Two-way text-style messaging with an incarcerated person at participating facilities.
Tablets
Secure tablets with entertainment, education, and communication apps, funded through the account.
Investigative Tools
Call recording and analysis for facility investigators — standard across the industry.
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Setting Up a Securus Online Account
Confirm Securus serves the facility. Check the jail or prison inmate-services page, or search the facility inside your Securus account. If it uses a different vendor, that company is the one you need.
Create your Securus Online account. Register at securustechnologies.com or in the Securus app with your name, email, and password. This one account is your gateway to all Securus services.
Add and verify your phone number. Register the number the incarcerated person will call. Unregistered or blocked numbers will not receive calls.
Enroll in AdvanceConnect and add funds. AdvanceConnect is the prepaid calling balance calls draw from. Add money with a debit or credit card online, in the app, or by phone.
Buy stamps or schedule visits as needed. Purchase eMessaging stamps and schedule Video Connect sessions from the same account.
Tip: AdvanceConnect (money you hold that calls draw from) is different from a deposit to the incarcerated person's own account. If calls fail, verify which method your facility requires and that your number is registered.
Using Video Connect & eMessaging
Securus Video Connect is a web-based video system that lets approved family and friends join a scheduled video session with an incarcerated person from anywhere with internet, using the free Securus app on a phone or tablet or through a computer. Some facilities also offer on-site video terminals in the lobby. Sessions are booked in advance and typically carry a per-session fee separate from calls.
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eMessaging lets you send electronic messages and photos that are screened by the facility before delivery. Messages are paid for with "stamps," and longer messages or attachments may cost more stamps. Delivery is not instant — messages are reviewed, which can add a delay.
Get on the approved visitor/contact list first — Video Connect and messaging usually require approval.
Test your camera, microphone, and internet before a scheduled visit.
Schedule early; popular time slots fill up quickly.
Follow the facility's dress and conduct rules — visits can be ended for violations.
Costs After the 2026 FCC Caps
Under the federal Martha Wright-Reed Act, the FCC capped per-minute rates and limited fees on prison and jail calls, with the new limits phasing in through 2025 and 2026. That has significantly lowered per-minute call costs through Securus. The exact rate depends on the facility, so confirm the current price for your facility inside your account. Typical charges to watch for:
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Per-minute phone rate (now FCC-capped)
Funding/deposit fees when you add money to AdvanceConnect
Per-session Video Connect fees
eMessaging stamp costs (per message and per attachment)
Watch out: Only add money through the official Securus site, the Securus app, or Securus's published phone numbers. Third-party "discount" services and unofficial second-line offers can be scams.
They share a parent company, Aventiv Technologies. Securus handles calls, video, and messaging; JPay handles money transfers, email, and media. At some facilities you may use both.
Why won't my calls come through?
The most common causes are an unregistered or blocked phone number and an empty AdvanceConnect balance. Verify both in your Securus Online account, then call 1-800-844-6591 if it persists.
Can I get a refund of unused funds?
Yes, you can request a refund of an unused AdvanceConnect balance through Securus customer support. Keep your transaction records and be ready to verify your identity.
Do I have to schedule Video Connect visits?
Yes. Video Connect sessions are booked in advance for a specific time slot. Get approved as a visitor first, then schedule inside your account and test your device beforehand.
Find, contact, and support your loved one
Whichever vendor a facility uses, the first step is always the same: confirm where the person is being held and which company that facility is contracted with. Our free tools help you do exactly that, then point you to the right official account, deposit method, and support line.
This support page is provided by AllRecentArrests.us as a free public resource. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Securus Technologies or any correctional vendor, and we receive no commission from them. Company names, phone numbers, fees, and policies change often and vary by facility — always confirm the current details on the vendor's official website and with the specific jail or prison before sending money or placing an order. Nothing here is legal or financial advice.
