Idaho juvenile corrections seeks $300,000 for substance-use treatment, radio upgrades and staff realignment

The Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections asked the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Feb. 18 for a $300,000 ongoing appropriation from the general fund to cover rising residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment costs and for one-time and technical adjustments for radios, IT and personnel.

The request matters because daily treatment costs and average lengths of stay for residential SUD programs have roughly doubled since 2021, increasing the department’s share of the cost after short-term federal funding from the Department of Health and Welfare expired. Noah Peterson, a budget policy analyst with the Legislative Budget Office, told the committee “this $300,000 request is to make up the difference from what was previously covered by health and welfare.”

IDJC Director Ashley Dowell, who joined the agency recently, told lawmakers the department is seeing higher acuity among youth in custody and greater mental-health and self-harm concerns. “I am very grateful. We have an amazing, passionate, dedicated staff,” Dowell said, adding that most youth remain under county probation and that county partnerships and community providers are essential.

What the department requested - $300,000 ongoing, general fund — to cover increased costs for daily residential SUD treatment. Peterson said the per‑day cost…