Juvenile Corrections requests radios, treatment funding as youth mental-health needs rise

Boise — The Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Feb. 18 that it is seeking several budget changes including a $380,000 one-time radio upgrade, a $300,000 ongoing general-fund request to cover substance use disorder residential treatment, and IT replacement items while describing increased mental-health needs among youth in custody.

The requests were presented by Noah Peterson, budget and policy analyst for the Legislative Budget Office, and by Ashley Dowell, director of the Department of Juvenile Corrections (IDJC). Peterson said the radio request would be paid from the Juvenile Corrections Endowment Income Fund and would give all three state juvenile correction centers a ‘‘man down’’ capability and consistent programming across sites in Lewiston, Nampa and St. Anthony. He said the agency seeks $380,000 one-time to purchase and program radios.

Why it matters: committee members pressed the agency for data on whether population trends or one-time federal funding shifted costs, and asked the department to return with additional information. Director Ashley Dowell emphasized rising mental-health needs and an increase in self-harm and suicidal ideation among youth in…