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988 dial access rolled out across state correctional facilities; staff report few emergency interventions
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Summary
State agencies said 988 became available from wall phones and tablets in correctional facilities by Dec. 2025; agencies reported protocols for imminent risk and that fewer than 1% of calls from facilities required emergency intervention so far.
Michelle Roberts told the committee that 988 access was rolled out across Department of Corrections facilities by the end of 2025 and that counselors handle calls from incarcerated individuals in the same ways as community callers. She said calls from correctional facilities are free, confidential and not recorded, and noted that 988 does not replace existing in‑facility mental health services.
Roberts described DOC‑specific readiness work, including training, workflows for inappropriate use and imminent‑risk protocols tailored to correctional settings. "Less than 1 percent of calls to 988 from correctional facilities have required emergency intervention," she told the committee, and agencies said they will continue monitoring the approach and sharing any operational issues with partners.
Committee members asked about phone/tablet access windows; Lonnie (staff) clarified that tablets and wall phones provide broad access but there are periods (overnight) with limited availability. Agency staff emphasized that 988 is an added option and that existing on‑site counseling and correctional mental health resources remain available.
