What’s the Deal with 988? A Shared Opportunity for Diversion, Right Response, and Saving Lives

Monday, October 21, 2024

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM ET

Location: 204AB

Speaker(s)

Ernest Stevens

Deputy Division Director for Law Enforcement
Council of State Governments (CSG) - Justice Center
Dallas, Texas, United States
Karen Montano

Social Work Director
Salt Lake City (UT) Police Department
Katie Holihen

Project Manager
The Council of State Governments Justice Center
Marissa Farina-Morse

Associate Deputy Director
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
Dustin Liston

Chief
Iowa City (IA) Police Department

In this interactive session, supported in partnership with BJA’s Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) and The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, a panel of law enforcement leaders will discuss the opportunity 988 presents for law enforcement—especially as a tool for behavioral health diversion. Panelists will also explore how the U.S. 988 dialing code (e.g., “someone to call”) intersects with the other two legs of the stool of a comprehensive crisis system: “someone to respond” and “somewhere to go.” Panelists will share lessons learned from collaboration with 988 and behavioral health partners and strategies for raising awareness among frontline officers of the services 988 provides.