Phone & Video Calls in Florida (FDC)

Key info

Phone service for the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) is provided through ViaPath Technologies (formerly GTL), with calling and account billing handled by Securus Technologies. ViaPath and Securus are both part of the Aventiv family of companies, and FDC’s phone vendor has been in transition — confirm the current provider before funding an account.

Tablets, electronic messaging, video visits, and digital media are provided through JPay (a Securus company).

Calls are paid. A funded account is required to pay for calls; messaging uses prepaid stamps, and video visits are scheduled and paid separately.

A limited free-call pilot has been proposed in some Florida budget years for people who keep a clean disciplinary record. Its funding and status have changed from year to year — confirm whether any free-call program is currently in effect.

Florida’s prison phone, tablet, messaging, and video services are provided by companies in the Aventiv family — ViaPath Technologies (formerly Global Tel*Link/GTL), Securus Technologies, and JPay. Phone calls and account billing run through ViaPath and Securus; tablets, electronic messaging, video visits, and media run through JPay. Rates and the assigned vendor have changed in recent years, so families confirm the current details before relying on them.

Phone calls and setting up an account

FDC phone service has been provided through ViaPath Technologies, and FDC has contracted with Securus Technologies for calling and account billing. Calls are placed to approved telephone numbers, and all calls are subject to electronic monitoring and recording.

Because phone calls are paid, families fund an account in advance to receive them. Accounts are set up online through the vendor handling billing — Securus (securustechnologies.com) for the AdvancePay/prepaid calling balance — or by phone with the vendor’s customer support. The account holder adds funds, and charges are drawn against that balance as calls are placed. Per-minute rates are set by FDC and the vendor and have shifted as the contract has changed, so the current rate is confirmed with the vendor at the time an account is funded.

Tablets and electronic messaging — JPay

FDC issues tablets through JPay (a Securus company). Tablets are used to send and receive electronic messages (eMessaging), to send and receive Videograms, and to access purchased media such as music and educational material.

Two-way electronic messaging between an incarcerated person and approved contacts is paid for with prepaid stamps, which are sold in bundles through JPay. Attachments cost extra — a Videogram uses several stamps. Families set up messaging by creating an account at JPay.com or by calling JPay customer support, then linking to the incarcerated person by name and DC number. All messages are subject to content screening.

Video visits — JPay

Florida offers video visits through JPay (JPay Video Connect), scheduled and paid separately from phone calls and electronic messages. A JPay account is required to schedule and pay for a session. Registration, approval, scheduling, and the rules for who may participate are handled through the visiting process — see Visiting in Florida for how video visits are set up and what identification is required. Video-visit availability is set facility by facility.

Rates, the free-call pilot, and how accounts work

Per-minute call rates in Florida have changed as the phone contract has moved between vendors, and federal rate caps adopted in late 2025 are being phased in. The current rate, the assigned phone vendor, and any account fees are confirmed directly with the billing vendor (Securus) at the time an account is funded.

A limited free-call pilot — a free monthly call for incarcerated people who keep a clean disciplinary record — has been funded in some Florida budget years and not in others. Whether any free-call program is currently operating, who is eligible, and how a call is claimed are confirmed with FDC before relying on it.

Accounts are vendor-specific: calling balances are funded through the billing vendor (Securus), while messaging stamps and video visits are funded through JPay. Money for the incarcerated person’s commissary/trust account is handled separately — see Sending Money in Florida.

Paying for calls, messaging, and video

Calls, messaging, and video visits are each paid and are funded through the responsible vendor. The calling balance is added through the billing vendor (Securus); messaging stamps and JPay Video Connect sessions are funded through JPay. Funds added to an incarcerated person’s commissary or trust account are handled differently — see Sending Money in Florida.

Verify Before Acting

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.