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IDOC requests staff and operating dollars to expand community reentry and parole operations
Summary
The Department of Correction proposed funding to annualize staff at the Pocatello Community Reentry Center, add parole officer positions, fund transitional housing and expand medication‑for‑opioid‑use‑disorder services during a Feb. 4 budget briefing.
The Idaho Department of Correction informed the Joint Finance Preparations Committee on Feb. 4 that the Community Corrections Division requests additional ongoing resources to support community reentry centers, parole officers and pilot treatment programs.
The agency said the community corrections division has about 511.35 FTP and that personnel comprise roughly three‑quarters of the division’s costs. The FY2026 enhancement package includes funding to annualize personnel for the Pocatello Community Reentry Center (17 positions had been appropriated in FY2025 with six months of pay; the FY2026 request seeks $680,700 to annualize those positions). If approved, the Pocatello center’s ongoing budget would be about $2.4 million.
Other requests highlighted by the agency included six ongoing FTP and $616,500 for parole officers in Districts 3 and 4, a $522,900 appropriation reflected in last year’s action that raised starting pay for parole officers by 85 cents (from $25.00 to $25.85 per hour), $750,000 for transitional housing to support reentry, and a two‑position pilot to provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) coordination while incarcerated and for community treatment upon release.
The agency said expanded drug testing appropriations would add fentanyl detection and additional sample capacity and noted that some funding had moved between divisions (a $1 million net zero realignment from the community‑based substance use disorder program into community corrections).
Committee members had no substantive questions during the presentation of this division. Director Tewalt and budget analyst Noah Peterson said the governor recommended the requested replacement and inflation items and that detailed LBB pages contain line‑by‑line listings of replacement equipment and vehicle needs.
Funding decisions remain pending as the Legislature proceeds with FY2026 budget deliberations.
