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Idaho budgets add parole officers and reentry positions as reentry centers expand
Summary
The Department of Correction requested ongoing funding for additional community reentry staff, parole officer pay increases and a pilot for medications for opioid use disorder as it expands community reentry operations.
The Department of Correction asked for ongoing funding to support expanded community reentry operations, additional parole officers and treatment services during a Feb. 4 review by the Joint Finance Preparations Committee.
Noah Peterson, the legislative budget analyst, told the committee the Community Corrections Division has 511.35 full-time positions and the division’s fiscal-year 2025 enhancements included funding to expand community reentry operations and the Pocatello Community Reentry Center. Peterson said 17 positions had been appropriated for six months in the management services division and that the community corrections budget requests $680,700 in FY2026 to annualize personnel costs for those positions; if approved, the Pocatello center’s ongoing budget would be roughly $2.4 million.
The division also requested funding to expand drug testing (including fentanyl tests), $750,000 for transitional housing and $212,300 for inflationary operating costs. Peterson noted the governor recommended those items.
Treatment pilot: The division asked for two positions to run a pilot program providing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to people while incarcerated and to coordinate community treatment upon release. Peterson said these two FTP are case managers who will support the pilot.
Parole staffing and pay: The budget includes a prior increase in starting pay for parole officers; Peterson noted a $522,900 appropriation was previously used to raise starting pay by $0.85 per hour for parole officers (from $25 to $25.85). The division requested six ongoing positions and $616,500 for parole officers for Districts 3 and 4.
Why it matters: Committee members did not vote on requests at the hearing but asked for clarifying information. Director Josh Tewalt and staff said improved data tools and staffing aim to help supervisors triage cases and free officers to focus on higher-risk individuals. The agency said expanding reentry operations and treatment services supports the goal of reducing recidivism and improving prisoner outcomes upon return to the community.
Next steps: The agency will provide additional operational details as the committee continues budget deliberations.
