How to set up incoming calls from someone in a California county jail. GTL/ViaPath, Securus, and ICSolutions account setup, rates, and county provider lookup, all in one place.
Calls may be answered by a licensed bail bond agent.Receiving calls from someone in a California jail requires setting up a prepaid account with the facility's contracted phone provider before the first call is made. GTL/ViaPath, Securus Technologies, and ICSolutions are the three major providers covering most California counties.
Jail calls work differently than regular calls. The inmate initiates the call; you must have an account set up with the facility's provider first. Here's the process:
Look up your county jail page on this site or call our free line. Every California county contracts with a specific phone provider, GTL/ViaPath, Securus Technologies, ICSolutions, or another vendor. You cannot use the wrong provider's account to receive calls.
Go to the provider's website and create a free account with your email address and phone number. Account creation is always free, you only pay when you add call time. GTL: connectnetwork.com | Securus: securustech.net | ICS: icsolutions.com
Add the phone number the inmate will be calling as an approved contact in your account. Some providers require you to verify your phone number via SMS or a callback. Unapproved numbers cannot receive calls from jail.
Deposit money to your prepaid account using a credit or debit card. Minimum deposits are typically $5–$25. When the inmate calls and you accept, charges are deducted from your account in real time based on the per-minute rate for that facility.
Inform the inmate of your account setup. They will call from a facility phone, enter their PIN, and dial your number. You will receive a call with an automated greeting identifying it as a call from a correctional facility. Press 1 or 5 (varies by provider) to accept the call.
Different counties use different phone providers. Using the wrong one means you cannot receive calls. Find your county below.
Website: connectnetwork.com
App: ConnectNetwork by GTL
Phone: 1-800-483-8314
Major California counties: Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Kern, Imperial, Riverside, and many others.
Also offers video visitation, messaging, and photo sharing on the ConnectNetwork platform.
Website: securustech.net
App: Securus Mobile
Phone: 1-800-844-6591
Major California counties: Sacramento, Fresno, Riverside, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Shasta, Butte, Placer, El Dorado, and others.
Offers video visits, eMessaging, and photo attachments through Securus Online. Mobile app available for iOS and Android.
Website: icsolutions.com
App: ICSolutions Mobile
Phone: 1-888-506-8407
Major California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Solano, and Northern California counties.
ICSolutions also provides messaging and video visitation at supported facilities. Some Bay Area counties have moved to zero-cost calling through ICS.
California has enacted some of the strongest inmate phone consumer protections in the country, including a cap on per-minute rates. Several Bay Area counties now offer zero-cost calls after successful negotiations with vendors.
| Call Type | Typical Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| In-state local call | $0.06 – $0.14/min | Federally capped for calls under 15 minutes |
| Video call (home) | $0.05 – $0.25/min | Typically 20–30 min sessions |
| Zero-cost counties | $0.00/min | SF, Santa Clara, Alameda, San Mateo, others |
| Deposit transaction fee | $0 – $5.95 | For adding funds to prepaid account |
| International | Varies | Not covered by California rate caps |
To receive calls, your phone number must be on the inmate's approved call list at the specific facility. The inmate adds numbers through their phone kiosk or by submitting a request to their housing unit officer. Processing takes 1 to 3 business days at most facilities. Once added, your number is active across all calls the inmate makes. If calls are still not coming through after 3 days, contact the phone vendor's support line to verify the number is active on the account.
Common reasons a call is declined even with an active account: (1) Your phone number is not yet on the approved call list at that specific facility. (2) A prior delinquent account balance exists on a previous account associated with your number. (3) Your prepaid balance is below the minimum required for a call (typically $0.50 to $1.00). (4) The inmate has used all their allotted call minutes for the period. Contact the provider's customer service to resolve a blocked number.
Most California county jail phone providers also offer video visitation, allowing family members to see and speak with inmates from any device with a camera and internet connection. This has largely replaced in-person visits at many facilities.
Once you have an account with the facility's vendor (GTL/ViaPath, Securus, or ICSolutions), schedule a video session from the provider's app or website. Sessions are typically 20 to 30 minutes. The inmate connects from a facility tablet or kiosk at the scheduled time. Sessions are recorded and monitored by facility staff. Cost is typically $5 to $15 per session.
GTL/ViaPath: ConnectNetwork app (iOS and Android) or web browser at connectnetwork.com. Securus: Securus Mobile app (iOS and Android) or securustech.net. ICSolutions: ICSolutions Mobile app or icsolutions.com. You need a device with a front-facing camera and microphone. A stable internet connection is required for clear video quality.
Video visit schedules vary by facility and housing unit. Most facilities offer sessions 7 days a week in time blocks (for example, 8am to 8pm). Sessions must be booked in advance, typically 24 to 72 hours ahead. If the inmate is in disciplinary housing or lockdown, video visits may be suspended temporarily. Check the provider's app for available time slots at your specific facility.
In addition to phone calls and video visits, most California county jail vendors offer electronic messaging services that allow families to send text-style messages and photos to inmates through the provider's platform.
Send messages through the provider's website or app. Messages are reviewed by facility staff before delivery, which can add a delay of 24 to 48 hours. Messages are typically capped at 1, 000 to 2, 000 characters. The inmate reads messages on a facility tablet or kiosk and can reply through the same system. Cost varies but is typically $0.25 to $0.50 per message.
Most providers allow you to send photos to inmates as part of messaging plans or as a separate purchase. Photos are screened for inappropriate content before delivery. Inmates may be able to view photos on tablets. Some providers also offer photo printing services that deliver physical prints to the inmate's housing unit at a per-photo cost.
Traditional postal mail remains an option at all California county jails and is often preferred by inmates for longer, more personal correspondence. Letters must be sent to the facility's mail address with the inmate's full name and booking number. Processing takes 3 to 7 days. Many facilities prohibit stickers, glitter, lipstick marks, or anything other than plain paper and envelopes.
Most declines happen because: (1) your phone number is not on the inmate's approved call list at the facility, (2) your phone number is blocked by the provider due to a previous delinquent account, (3) your account balance is below the minimum required for a call (usually 3–5 minutes' worth of credit), or (4) the inmate has used up their daily call allotment. Contact the provider's customer service line for your specific account status.
No. Jails do not have direct phone lines to housing units or individual cells. All inmate communication by phone goes through the facility's contracted phone system, which the inmate initiates from a facility phone. You cannot call in to reach an inmate directly.
Attorney-client calls are supposed to be privileged and not recorded. However, the attorney must be registered with the facility as the inmate's attorney of record, and the call must be placed to the attorney's registered number. Calls to unregistered numbers, even if the person on the other end is actually an attorney, may be recorded. Attorneys should confirm privileged call setup directly with the facility.
Call allotments vary by facility and housing unit. Most California county jails allow between 15 and 60 minutes per day. Some facilities reset allotments daily at midnight; others operate on rolling 24-hour windows. Disciplinary restrictions can reduce or eliminate call privileges. Check with the facility's inmate services for specific rules.
You can set up your account immediately, but the inmate typically cannot make calls until they are fully booked into the system, usually 8–24 hours after arrest for large facilities. They will need to add your number to their approved call list, which requires submitting a form to facility staff. Some facilities automatically populate the call list from the booking form; others require a written request after arrival.
Our agents can tell you which provider your county uses, walk you through account setup, and help you locate the inmate if needed. Free 24/7.
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