After on-duty shooting, Idaho corrections asks for surveillance tech, transport expansion and body‑worn camera pilot

The Idaho Department of Correction told the Joint Finance Preparations Committee it needs new surveillance tools and a larger transport capability after an armed ambush during an inmate hospital transport in spring 2024 that left three correctional staff wounded.

Analyst Noah Peterson and Director Josh Tewalt presented the State Prisons Division requests on Feb. 4, including a FY2025 supplemental and FY2026 ongoing funding for multiple security items. The agency tied several requests directly to vulnerabilities identified after the ambush and asked the committee to consider them as part of the FY2026 budget.

Major technology requests: the department seeks $795,000 in supplemental general-fund spending to begin implementing three systems in FY2025 — digital mail scanning, a layered drone‑detection system and a phone‑call transcription and analysis tool (described in the presentation as “LEO intelligence software”). For a full year those items would total $2,397,000 ongoing, with the FY2026 breakdown the agency provided as $1,011,000 for digital mail scanning, $385,500 for drone detection and $1,000,000 for the phone transcription/analysis system.

Tewalt described mail scanning as a way to remove the agency’s most “porous point of entry for contraband” by scanning and digitizing mail off‑site, then delivering it electronically to inmates. He said drone detection will help identify and allow law enforcement to intercept attempted contraband drops, and described the phone‑call transcription tool as “one of the most exciting and revolutionary tools that I've seen in my time in corrections,” noting the agency’s large volume of inmate calls and the potential to surface criminal intelligence.

Transport bureau expansion and rationale: the department requested a one‑time FY2025 supplemental of $1,148,000 to expand the transport bureau by 12 full‑time positions and updated vehicles and equipment, with an ongoing cost estimated at $965,500 (about $909,000 of that for personnel). The supplemental would fund 12 hires, seven fully equipped vehicles (six SUVs and a wheelchair van) and operating expenses for the remainder of FY2025.

Tewalt explained that emergency hospital transports historically were handled as an additional duty by facility staff. After the ambush, the agency said it determined the specialized, statewide transport team—trained for high‑risk moves and equipped for tactical medical response—should handle more emergency transports to reduce vulnerability. He told the committee the change is not a mere transfer of responsibility: “We generated 20,000 hours of overtime at ISCC. We generated 14,000 hours of overtime at IMSI,” he said, and argued hiring dedicated transport staff is more efficient than increasing full‑time posts across multiple facilities.

Body‑worn camera pilot and other items: the department also requested a federal‑funded, one‑time pilot for body‑worn cameras in three locations (Idaho Maximum Security Institution, District 3 probation and parole, and special investigations units), with a modest general‑fund match in FY2025. The agency expects to request a state match in FY2026 and FY2027 for licensing and ongoing costs.

Skid‑steer/snow removal: the agency requested $83,200 for a skid‑steer at St. Anthony work camp; the governor recommended a $30,000 ongoing contract for snow removal instead of purchasing the equipment. The Division of Financial Management said contracting avoids long‑term replacement and maintenance costs for seasonal equipment.

Governor’s recommendations: Peterson said the governor recommended most items; the primary difference was the governor’s recommendation to contract snow removal at St. Anthony instead of purchasing a skid‑steer.

No formal votes were held during the presentation. Committee members asked for additional information and expressed appreciation for steps to protect staff and to address contraband and transport vulnerabilities.