Idaho Juvenile Corrections seeks $380,000 radio upgrade and $300,000 to cover rising residential treatment costs

The Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections asked the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Feb. 18 for funding to modernize safety equipment and to cover increased costs for residential substance‑use treatment.

Budget analyst Noah Peterson told the committee the department is requesting a $380,000 one‑time radio replacement from the Juvenile Corrections Endowment Income Fund to replace and program radios across the Lewiston, Nampa and St. Anthony facilities with a “man down” feature to locate staff who need assistance. Peterson also described a $300,000 ongoing general‑fund request to cover higher per‑day costs and longer stays in a residential substance‑use disorder (SUD) treatment program.

The requests are part of a broader budget presentation that included IT replacement items ($232,500 requested following Office of Information Technology Services recommendations), a net‑zero transfer of $350,000 between programs for youth assessment centers, and a proposed net‑0 personnel‑to‑operating shift of $675,100 tied to consolidating IT positions with the Office of Information Technology Services and reducing 7 FTP.

Why it matters: committee members pressed the department for data showing whether higher costs reflect changes in clinical practice, provider pricing, or longer lengths of stay — matters that affect whether the department needs ongoing general fund support or whether the increases are a one‑time reallocation.

Noah Peterson, budget…