Deputy chief of probation and parole Corey Barrier seeks seat on Offender Management Board, stresses evidence-based supervision

Corey Barrier, deputy chief of probation and parole for the Idaho Department of Corrections, appeared before the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee as the governor’s nominee to the Offender Management Board and said his experience supervising high-needs clients and training staff informs his approach.

Barrier said he has worked for the department for about 18 years, starting as a probation and parole officer in District 4 and later serving in training, district management and, since March 2024, as deputy chief overseeing all seven probation and parole districts. He said that role comprises responsibility for roughly 500 staff statewide.

Discussing supervision of individuals convicted of sex offenses (redacted in the transcript as “***”), Barrier said these clients often require a deeper understanding of behavior and specialized treatment services. “To stand before you and say that I have all the answers, no. But I have a lot of experience with community providers and working with... people that really do specialize in that kind of treatment,” he told the committee.

Barrier described an evolution in supervision away from a strictly compliance-based model toward meeting basic needs and building connections that support behavior change. “It's hard for me to affect change or get somebody to comply with conditions of supervision when they don't have a roof over their head or food to eat,” Barrier said. He described his goal as enhancing public safety by connecting clients to services that address risk and needs.

The committee thanked Barrier for his willingness to serve. No committee vote on his appointment was recorded at this meeting; the chair said appointments are voted on at the following meeting.