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Parole commission seeks $100 increase in daily pay; director warns of turnover and unpaid prep work
Summary
The Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole requested that commissioners’ daily pay rise from $300 to $400, citing increased workload and difficulty recruiting candidates; the commission’s executive director said commissioners currently are paid only for hearing days and do substantial unpaid prep work.
The executive director of the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole asked the committee Feb. 4 to consider increasing commissioners’ daily pay from $300 to $400, saying current compensation and workload make recruitment and retention difficult.
Why it matters: Commissioners decide parole, commutation and pardon matters that affect victims, communities and incarcerated individuals. The commission recently moved out from under the Department of Correction into the Department of Self‑Governing Agencies by 2024 legislation; the agency told lawmakers it struggles to retain experienced commissioners.
What the commission requested: Executive Director Christine Starr said commissioners last received a pay raise in 2017 (from $200 to $300). The commission’s enhancement request would require statute change and a fiscal impact estimated by the governor’s office at $59,300. Starr said commissioners delivered about 5,907 decisions in 2017 and 6,670 decisions in fiscal 2024, and she told the committee she expects losing more than half of the current commission by December unless changes are made.
Workload and unpaid preparation: Starr told lawmakers commissioners are paid only for hearing days, not for file preparation. ‘‘By statute our commissioners are only paid for the time that they are in hearing,’’ she said, and she explained her calculation that commissioners typically spend roughly 26 hours preparing for five hearing days — ‘‘about 3.25 days that they're not compensated for.’’
Other requests: The commission also requested nine replacement laptops ($12,600 total) and separately noted an appropriation for extradition costs and limited IT support in recent years.
Budget status and governor’s recommendation: The governor’s recommendation included approximately $59,300 tied to the proposed pay increase (the precise appropriation would depend on the enabling legislation and timing). The commission noted recruiting declines and candidate declinations frequently cite inadequate compensation.
Ending: Starr said she will analyze commission structure and decision frameworks as part of a broader review. The committee did not take a vote on the pay proposal during the hearing.
