Idaho Department of Correction seeks ongoing funding for Recidiviz and transparency tools

The Idaho Department of Correction told the Joint Finance Preparations Committee on Feb. 4 that it wants ongoing funding to expand its data analytics partnership with Recidiviz, buy continuing subscriptions to disclosure and legal‑research tools, and fund training equipment and a pilot special assistant U.S. attorney for North Idaho.

The request was presented by Legislative Office analyst Noah Peterson and underscored by Director Josh Tewalt. Peterson described the line items in management services, saying the division requested a mix of ongoing and one‑time funding for case‑management software, transparency tools and training equipment. "They would like to partner with Recidiviz," Peterson said, noting Recidiviz previously received about $1.5 million in mostly federal funds in fiscal years 2021 and 2023.

Tewalt described the Recidiviz partnership as more than a software purchase. "It's probably the most transformative partnership we've entered into as an agency in my entire tenure there," he told the committee, adding Recidiviz aggregates data from disparate systems to produce case triage tools and officer‑level outcome dashboards. He said the nonprofit matches public dollars with philanthropic funding "so for every dollar we spend, they match, with private foundation money."

Committee members asked for outcome data and for assurance the state retains control of its information. Peterson said he did not have hard ROI data at the hearing but offered to get it. Tewalt told the committee the department controls the underlying data through data‑sharing agreements and that Recidiviz pulls data from IDOC systems rather than altering it. "I don't have any interest in manipulating outcomes. I have interest in understanding what the outcomes are and how we can get better at the work," he said.

Other management‑services requests detailed in the budget packet include $668,100 for transparency software (about $611,000 ongoing and $57,000 one‑time) to manage public‑records requests and provide inmates access to court materials; $77,400 one‑time for training mannequins and a light‑duty truck for Meridian's training center; $1.515 million for IT replacement items (about $665,000 for laptops/desktops and $850,000 for other hardware); and a one‑time $85,000 general‑fund pilot to place a special assistant U.S. attorney in North Idaho to support local law enforcement on drug trafficking cases.

Senators and representatives pressed the department for documentation that the Recidiviz work produces measurable benefits, and asked for copies of the dashboards the agency uses. Tewalt said he would provide regular dashboards but cautioned committees and staff about making simplistic comparisons at the officer level: comparing outliers requires context, he said, and the tools are intended to help supervisors identify practices that improve outcomes.

The management services division also sought funding to continue GPS geo‑tracking pilot functions, and Peterson said several management requests had been recommended by the governor. The committee did not take a vote on these items during the hearing.

The department and analysts offered to supply follow‑up material—cost‑benefit numbers and example dashboards—to inform lawmakers before decisions on ongoing general‑fund support.