Appropriations committee warned inmate counts and corrections costs are rising

Legislative fiscal staff told the House Appropriations Committee that inmate populations and corrections costs are on an upward trend and that the Burgum executive recommendation includes new staff and a prison construction proposal.

Alan Knudson presented growth metrics that show inmate counts increasing across biennia — staff materials showed 7% growth from the 2019–21 period, 9% to 2023–25, and an 11% projected increase to 2025–27. Knudson told members the Burgum recommendation includes 42 new FTE for corrections, with 27 positions directed to the Heart River women's facility.

Why it matters: several members said the rising inmate population is not sustainable without policy changes. Representative Kempenek asked whether reforms are proposed to slow inmate growth; Representative Hansen observed the governor and other lawmakers plan proposals to provide "off ramps" and short‑term relief for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR).

Staff also described a large capital recommendation included in the executive budget for corrections: approximately $127 million for a new facility at the Missouri River Correctional Center (listed in the capital construction section of the executive book). Members were urged to consider whether capital and operating increases would bend the inmate curve or whether changes to sentencing, reentry and programming should accompany funding increases.

Next steps: the committee was advised to review DOCR's details when the department appears and to consider legislative proposals intended to reduce incarceration growth and better align bed use with the most serious offenders' needs.