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Idaho seeks to expand community reentry centers, transitional housing and opioid disorder treatment supports
Summary
Budget materials ask for staffing and operating support to expand community reentry centers, fund transitional housing, expand drug testing (including fentanyl) and pilot medication‑for‑opioid‑use‑disorder (MOUD) in incarceration settings.
The Joint Finance Preparations Committee heard Feb. 4 that Idaho’s Community Corrections Division is seeking funding to expand community reentry operations, increase probation and parole staff, bolster drug testing with opioid detection and pilot medication‑for‑opioid‑use‑disorder programs for incarcerated people.
Noah Peterson, the Legislative Services Office analyst, said Community Corrections has 511.35 FTP and that personnel make up about three‑quarters of the division’s spending. Major past appropriations included funding for community connection centers and the Twin Falls Community Reentry Center. For FY2025 the division received 20 FTP and funding for reentry specialists and administrative positions tied to the Pocatello Community Reentry Center; the agency requests annualization of those personnel costs in FY2026.
The division requested $721,200 for expanded drug testing to include opioids such as fentanyl; $750,000 for transitional housing and reintegration supports; and a pilot to provide medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) while people are incarcerated with two FTP assigned as case managers to coordinate follow‑up treatment in the community. The committee was told the governor recommended these items.
Peterson and Director Josh Tewalt described prior investments in community resources and expanded supervisory staff as part of a broader strategy to reduce recidivism. Tewalt told lawmakers the department has increased probation and parole staffing by roughly 40% and uses data tools to prioritize officer caseloads. Committee members asked for supporting data and noted the department will need to annualize six months of FY2025 positions for a full FY2026 cost estimate.
Committee members asked few follow‑ups at the hearing. The department said it would provide annualized personnel figures and more details on program metrics and performance data for the Recidiviz dashboards referenced earlier in the session.
