Corrections pilot using AI to monitor inmate calls credited with preventing suicides, proponents say

Representatives from the Department of Corrections and Leo Technologies described a pilot that uses artificial intelligence to analyze inmate phone calls and flag high‑risk behavior and coordinated criminal activity.

Representative Wilcox said the pilot produced concrete results during a roughly four‑month test: Lincoln Shirts of Leo Technologies reported two suicide attempts were intercepted and that the system surfaced organized illicit activity coordinated from inside facilities. "On average, those cost about $2,000,000 to the state of Utah in civil damages that can be incurred by the state if someone were to commit suicide while in custody," Shirts told the committee.

Officials framed the tool as one part of a larger reintegration and offender‑management effort, complementary to DOC's tablet program and offender‑management systems; chair and members probed whether the pilot overlaps with vendor tablet platforms and whether it duplicates planned digital communications upgrades. Proponents said the phone‑call monitoring is distinct from tablet communications but that a full suite of tools (letters, tablets, calls) would be integrated for a comprehensive view.

What happens next: the committee took questions on vendor overlap and implementation planning. The appropriation request will be considered with other DOC technology investments.