Phone & Video Calls in Washington (WA DOC)

Washington’s phone, tablet, messaging, and video services all run on a single Securus contract called Individual Technology Services (ITS). Securus owns the JPay brand that appears on the tablets, so “Securus” and “JPay” refer to the same vendor’s products. Each service is described below.

Phone calls

Phone service is provided by Securus. The incarcerated person places the calls — there are no incoming calls. Calls can be placed from wall phones in the housing units and from the person’s JPay tablet.

Under the ITS contract, each incarcerated person is credited with a number of free weekly calls. Calls beyond that weekly allotment are paid through Securus, funded either from a prepaid account that a family member sets up on a phone number or from a debit account the incarcerated person funds. All calls are subject to monitoring and recording.

Calling rates are set by the vendor and by federal rule, and they change. Per-minute pricing for prison and jail calls is in flux under the 2024 FCC rate-cap order, which has been the subject of ongoing implementation and delay through 2026. Because of that, the current per-minute rate is not memorialized here — confirm current rates with Securus before funding an account.

Tablets, messaging, and e-stamps

Washington issues JPay tablets under the ITS contract. The tablets handle electronic messages (e-messaging), photos, and VideoGrams, in addition to placing phone calls. Two-way electronic messages are paid for with e-stamps, and each incarcerated person receives some free e-stamps under the ITS contract. Beyond the free allotment, e-stamps and add-ons such as photos and VideoGrams are purchased through JPay, at prices set by the vendor that change — confirm them in the app before sending. Messages are subject to content screening.

Video visits

Washington offers video visits through Securus Video Connect. Each incarcerated person’s contacts receive 4 free 30-minute sessions per month; sessions beyond that cost about $4.95 per 30 minutes.

Video visits are scheduled by the approved visitor at least 24 hours in advance through Securus. A video visit is a separate service from an in-person visit, and it is the only form of visit that Washington schedules online — there is no public online booking for in-person visits. The visitor must still be on the incarcerated person’s Approved Visitor List. For how that list works, see Visiting in Washington.

Funding a Securus or JPay account

Phone calls beyond the free weekly allotment, e-stamps beyond the free allotment, and paid video sessions all draw on Securus and JPay accounts. A family member sets up an account at Securus or JPay online, by phone, or through the app. Funds for an incarcerated person’s commissary or trust account are handled separately. For the deposit methods, fees, and the mailed-money-order option, see Sending Money in Washington.

Verify Before Acting

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