After staff shooting, Idaho DOC requests mail scanning, drone detection, phone transcription and expanded transport team

The Idaho Department of Correction told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee it needs new equipment and personnel to address vulnerabilities exposed during a violent incident last spring and to reduce contraband and staffing risks across state prisons.

Noah Peterson, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, described three supplemental requests tied to the incident: advanced surveillance technology, expansion of the transport bureau and a federal body‑worn camera pilot.

Why it matters: The department said last spring an inmate being returned from emergency medical care was ambushed by a gunman; three correctional staff were shot. Agency leaders told the committee the augmentations are intended to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents, limit contraband introduction, and reduce overtime-related staffing strain.

Advanced surveillance technology: The agency requested $795,000 in supplemental fiscal‑year 2025 funds to begin digital mail scanning, drone detection, and phone‑call transcription/analysis (the transcript refers to the latter as “LEO intelligence” technology). Peterson said the full annual cost if approved would be $2,397,000, with cost breakdowns the department provided as digital mail scanning $1,011,000, drone detection $385,500 and the phone transcription system $1,000,000 (ongoing amounts). Director Josh Tewalt told the committee mail digitization would “completely eliminate our most porous point of entry for contraband” and allow staff to be redeployed to other security tasks.

Transport bureau expansion: The department seeks a one‑time general‑fund supplemental of $1,148,000 to expand the Transport Safety Bureau and fund 12 full‑time positions. Peterson said the one‑time request includes roughly $455,000 in personnel costs for the remainder of FY2025 and about $693,000 in operating costs to outfit seven vehicles (six SUVs and a wheelchair van) with barriers, lighting and other equipment. Director Tewalt said the change would move responsibility for high‑risk emergency transports to specialized staff, rather than relying on facility staff reassigned from posts, and that significant overtime is already being used to cover transports — “we generated 20,000 hours of overtime at ISCC” and “14,000 hours at IMSI,” he said.

Body‑worn camera pilot: The department included a largely federal body‑worn camera pilot in its supplemental package. Peterson said the FY2025 supplemental request totaled $1,051,000, primarily federal funds with a small general‑fund share; the agency anticipates additional state match requirements in FY2026 and FY2027 and proposed a recurring license cost request of about $505,000 for the program.

Questions and tradeoffs: Committee members asked whether adding full‑time transport staff simply shifts staffing needs rather than reducing total positions; Tewalt said creating a statewide, trained transport resource is more efficient than substantially increasing facility staffing to the required relief levels and that creating dedicated transport staff avoids repeatedly pulling qualified officers from posts. Representative Petske sought clarification about whether buying a skid‑steer (skid loader) for a work camp was preferable to contracting snow removal; the governor recommended contracting instead of purchasing the $83,200 piece of equipment.

Ending: The committee did not take final action during the hearing. Legislators asked for additional detail on cost, staffing impacts and the anticipated federal match for the body‑worn camera pilot before making appropriation decisions.