What is Securus?
Securus Technologies is the largest provider of communication services for U.S. prisons and jails. It's used in most state correctional systems — including Texas (TDCJ), where it's the primary way friends and family communicate with incarcerated loved ones. Through Securus you can send text messages, photos, video greetings, and prepay for the inmate's reply.
You may have known Securus by another name: JPay. Securus acquired JPay in 2025, and most JPay accounts have been migrated to Securus. If you used to message someone through JPay, you'll now do it through Securus or the unified Securus mobile app.
Securus eMessaging is electronic letters and photos. It's not phone calls (those are billed separately through Securus Debit), and it's not video visits (a separate service called Video Connect). This guide covers eMessaging only.
Setting up your Securus account
Setup takes about 10 minutes if you have the inmate's TDCJ ID number (or equivalent state ID) ready. Walk through these steps in order.
Create a free Securus Online account
Go to securustech.net and click Sign Up. You'll need an email address, a password, and basic personal info. The account itself is free — you only pay when you buy stamps to send messages.
Verify your email before continuing. Securus will send a confirmation link.
Find and add your inmate as a contact
From the dashboard, click Add Contact and search by:
- State — pick the state where they're incarcerated (e.g., Texas)
- Inmate ID — for Texas, this is their TDCJ Offender ID (a 7-8 digit number). Other states use different formats.
If you can't find them by ID, try searching by last name + first name. Note: not every facility uses Securus eMessaging — if your inmate's facility doesn't appear, see the alternatives section below.
Wait for them to accept your contact request
You can't message someone until they've accepted your contact request on their tablet. This usually happens within a day or two — they'll see you in their contact list and tap Approve. If they're new to the system or haven't checked their tablet, it can take longer.
Some facilities don't require approval and let you message immediately. Texas and most state systems do require it.
Buy your first book of stamps
Once your contact is approved, you'll see them in your inbox. Click Purchase Stamps, choose a quantity, and pay with a credit or debit card. See the pricing section below for details on what stamps cost.
Compose and send your first message
Click Compose, select your contact, type your message, and hit Send. One stamp covers a standard text message. You can optionally check the Prepay Reply box, which costs an extra stamp but ensures the inmate doesn't have to spend their own money to reply.
Stamps and pricing
Securus uses a "stamp" system instead of charging per message. You buy stamps in books, then spend them as you send messages and attachments. Stamp prices vary by facility — Securus negotiates separate rates with each correctional system.
| Action | Stamps required | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|
| Send a text message | 1 stamp | $0.25–$1.00 |
| Send a photo attachment | 1 additional stamp | $0.25–$1.00 |
| Prepay a reply | 1 additional stamp | $0.25–$1.00 |
| Send an eCard or VideoGram | 2-3 stamps (varies) | $0.50–$3.00 |
Once you select your inmate, Securus will show you the exact stamp price for that facility. Books typically come in increments of 5, 10, 20, or 30 stamps. Buying larger books usually gets you a small discount per stamp.
If your message gets rejected by the facility (for any reason — language, content, attachments), you don't get the stamp back. Read the rules carefully before sending anything that might violate facility policy.
Can the inmate message me first?
No. The inmate cannot initiate contact through Securus. You must message them first, and only after they've accepted your contact request. Once that exchange is established, they can message you back as long as they have stamps on their account.
How does the inmate get stamps?
Two ways:
- You can transfer some of your stamps to them. From your Securus account, click Transfer Stamps and choose how many to send. They use these to reply to you.
- You can fund their Securus Debit account directly. They use that balance to buy their own stamps. This is a separate transaction in your Securus account.
For most pen-pal correspondences, the simplest approach is to prepay the reply on each message you send. That way they always have what they need to write back without you transferring stamps separately.
Sending messages effectively
Securus messages can hold thousands of characters — typically 4,000 or more, depending on the facility. That's plenty of room for a substantial letter. But because every message costs a stamp, it's worth using that space well rather than firing off short notes.
Character limits by state (approximate)
Securus character limits vary by facility. Common ranges:
- Texas (TDCJ): typically 4,000-6,000 characters per message
- California: usually 3,500-5,000 characters
- Federal facilities: Securus isn't typically used — federal inmates use CORRLINKS instead
- Most state systems: 4,000 characters is a safe assumption
The character counter inside Securus includes spaces, line breaks, and punctuation. A 4,000-character message is closer to 700 words than 1,000. Watch the counter as you type — if you go over, the message will get cut off when you try to send.
Tips for writing good Securus messages
- Save drafts. Securus lets you save a draft before sending. Use this — it's easy to accidentally close the tab and lose what you wrote.
- Compose in a separate document first if you're writing something long. Then paste in. Avoids losing work to browser issues.
- Don't worry about formatting. Securus strips most rich text. Plain prose is what arrives.
- Reply to specific things they wrote. Inmates value being heard. Quote a line they wrote and respond to it directly.
Sending photos
Photos are one of the most appreciated things you can send through Securus. The world inside is the same color and the same scenery, day after day. A photo of your dog, your garden, your kid's school picture, or your kitchen at Christmas means more than you'd expect.
How to send a photo
- From the Compose screen, click Attach Photo
- Select a photo from your computer or phone gallery
- Confirm — the photo costs an additional stamp on top of the message
- Send
Photo rules
Securus and the facility both review every photo. They will reject anything that violates these rules:
✓ Allowed
- Family photos (kids, parents, pets)
- Outdoor scenes (gardens, vacations, hikes)
- Holidays and celebrations
- Pets (huge favorite)
- Food you cooked
- Tattoos that aren't gang-related
✗ Will be rejected
- Nudity or suggestive poses
- Alcohol, drugs, or paraphernalia
- Weapons of any kind
- Gang signs or known gang colors
- Photos with other inmates / co-defendants
- Maps or images of correctional facilities
Rules and prohibited content
Every message you send is reviewed by facility staff before it reaches the inmate. Same for every message they send back to you. This isn't surveillance to be paranoid about — it's just standard practice. Write like you would write any letter that someone else might read.
Topics that get messages rejected
- Discussion of pending legal cases or testimony. Even if you think it's fine, don't go there.
- Anything that could be seen as planning or coordinating illegal activity.
- References to other inmates by name at the same facility — this triggers automatic review and often rejection.
- Information about prison staff by name.
- Coded language. If a reviewer can't tell what you mean, the message gets rejected.
- Money, address, or phone-number sharing in ways that violate platform rules. Money goes through the proper channels (Securus Debit deposits, not embedded in a message).
Common problems and fixes
"My message says 'Pending Review' for days"
Most messages are reviewed within 24-72 hours. Some facilities are slower — Washington State, for example, allows up to 7 business days for review. If it's been more than a week, contact Securus support: (972) 734-1111.
"My message was rejected and I don't know why"
You'll receive an inbox notification with the rejection reason. Common ones: image quality (faces not clear), language flagged, mentioned another inmate by name, attachment too large. The stamp is not refunded, but you can rewrite the message and try again.
"I added them but can't send messages"
Check that they've accepted your contact request from their tablet. Until they accept, the contact shows as "Pending" in your inbox and you cannot message. If it's been more than a week, ask the inmate via another channel (phone, mail) to check their tablet.
"My credit card was charged but I don't see the stamps"
Refresh the page and check the Stamps balance. If it still shows zero, the transaction may be pending. Contact Securus support with your transaction ID. Don't try to buy stamps again until you've confirmed the first charge processed.
"They keep replying with rejected messages"
If their replies are getting rejected back to them, it's usually a content issue on their end — they may be using language that triggered facility review. Suggest they keep messages plain and avoid discussing other inmates, staff, or anything case-related.
When Securus isn't an option
Not every inmate is reachable through Securus. If your match isn't on Securus, here are the most common alternatives:
- USPS regular mail — works at virtually every facility. Slower, but reliable. See the letter-writing guide for tips.
- TextBehind — used in many county jails and some state systems. You upload a letter online; they print it and deliver it physically.
- GettingOut (ViaPath/GTL) — a competitor to Securus, used in some states.
- CORRLINKS — the federal Bureau of Prisons system. Free for the volunteer; the inmate pays per message.
- SMARTINMATE (Smart Communications) — used in some state systems where the prison has shifted to scanned-mail-only programs.
Your dashboard will tell you which platform applies for whichever inmate you're matched with — you don't have to figure it out alone.