Funding sought to expand community reentry centers, parole staffing and drug testing

The Department of Correction told the Joint Finance Preparations Committee on Feb. 4 that it is seeking ongoing funds for community reentry operations, probation and parole staffing increases, expanded drug testing that includes fentanyl, transitional housing, and a pilot to provide medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to people while incarcerated.

Legislative analyst Noah Peterson said the community corrections division has 511.35 FTP and that recent base growth averaged 9.7% year over year. Major recent appropriations included operating community connection centers and adding reentry specialist and parole officer positions. For fiscal 2026 the division seeks annualization of personnel costs for the Pocatello Community Reentry Center (17 positions; annualization request $680,700) and ongoing funding for additional parole officers in Districts 3 and 4.

Peterson also identified a $721,200 appropriation in prior action to expand drug testing, explicitly adding opioids such as fentanyl to testing panels, and a $750,000 package for transitional housing and reentry supports. He said the agency requested 2 FTP and funding to pilot MOUD during incarceration with case managers to coordinate community treatment on release.

The committee did not take formal action at the hearing. Director Josh Tewalt joined analysts in describing the desire to align resources to lower recidivism and to provide services that help people succeed in the community. The director and analysts said some positions were initially funded as one‑time and are now being requested as ongoing; the committee asked for additional detail where appropriations were annualizing from mid‑year hires.

Peterson said the governor recommended the items described in the budget book, including replacement‑item lists and inflation adjustments. The agency agreed to provide further breakdowns of the Pocatello center costs and of the MOUD pilot to the committee on request.