Phone & Video Calls in Colorado (CDOC)

Phone calls — free to families

Colorado’s phone vendor is Securus (it replaced GTL in 2023). Under a 2023 state law, CDOC now covers the full cost of calls — phased in to 100% by July 2025 — so families are not charged a per-minute rate. The person inside places outgoing calls only (there are no incoming calls) to people on their approved phone list. To be added, write to them or send a Securus message so they can update the list through their case manager. Calls are monitored and recorded, and individual facilities may set time limits.

Messaging and tablets

Securus eMessaging lets family create a Securus account (you need the person’s DOC number) and send messages that are reviewed by staff and delivered to the person’s tablet. It currently runs one direction — the person reads messages but does not reply electronically. Messages use a small per-message “stamp,” and the price can vary by facility, so confirm the current cost at checkout. Securus tablets are available to incarcerated people at all facilities.

Video visiting

Video visits are offered through Securus, but Colorado’s video visiting has been in transition under new federal rate rules — at times suspended while the platform is rebuilt to comply — so the price and current availability are unsettled. Confirm both with CDOC and Securus before counting on a video visit. (In-person visiting is covered in Visiting in Colorado.)

Verify Before Acting

For the general, nationwide overview of this topic, see the national guide: Staying in Touch.