December 14, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Chris Gautz, Public Information Officer
517-373-6391
Michigan Department of Corrections to send real-time public safety messages through Nixle
Residents asked to sign up to receive local, statewide alerts
Michigan residents will be able to receive critical public safety alerts from the Michigan Department of Corrections through a new community notification system designed to provide real-time information via text, email and social media.
The department is using Nixle, a mass communications platform, to share alerts regarding emergency situations, training exercises, and other important events with residents around the state. Schools, local governments and businesses can also sign up to receive alerts through the system.
Alerts can be targeted geographically or sent statewide, and can be delivered via text, email, voice messages, the internet, social media and the Nixle mobile app.
The service is free, secure, reliable and easy to use.
To sign up, text your zip code to 888777 from your mobile phone, or go to www.michigan.gov/corrections and select the page for the correctional facility in your area to register via the Nixle Widget.
Once registered, residents will receive a confirmation text to their mobile device. Residents may also customize their alert settings by going to www.nixle.com and creating a user profile.
“This system will allow us to provide important information to the citizens we serve in an instant,” said Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington. “It will help us keep Michigan residents safe and informed, and broaden our communication with the public.”
The MDOC will join more than 8,000 agencies around the country that use Nixle for community engagement and emergency communications.
Nixle is partnered with Nlets, the International Justice and Public Safety Network, for data security, as well as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the National Blue Alert Network and Google.
