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Idaho DOC asks for ongoing funding for Recidiviz tools, transparency software and training gear
Summary
The Department of Correction presented requests to fund ongoing recidivism case-management tools (Recidiviz), public-records and legal-access subscriptions, and training equipment; lawmakers asked for performance data and cost comparisons.
The Idaho Department of Correction asked the Joint Finance Preparations Committee on Feb. 4 to approve ongoing funding for a partnership with Recidiviz — a nonprofit that builds data tools for corrections systems — and to cover subscriptions for public-records and legal-access software used by residents and staff.
At the hearing, Director Josh Tewalt described Recidiviz as a data-integration partner that has “probably the most transformative partnership” the agency has had. He said the nonprofit helps the department pull disparate data from outdated systems, create case-triage dashboards for probation officers and, the department hopes, extend similar functionality into prisons to help case managers automate classification and progress tracking.
The request and context: The agency asked the legislature to add operating appropriations to continue and expand Recidiviz-driven tools. Legislative analyst Noah Peterson said prior work with Recidiviz in fiscal years 2021 and 2023 cost about $1.5 million largely from federal funds and that the current request would shift some costs to ongoing general-fund appropriation to support continuous development.
Questions from lawmakers: Senator Cook and Representative Tanner both asked for outcome data and ROI information. Peterson said he did not have hard performance numbers at the hearing but that the agency and director could provide dashboards and usage reports. Director Tewalt told the committee the department controls the underlying data, that Recidiviz pulls data under data‑sharing agreements, and that philanthropic partners match public spending — “for every dollar we spend, they match with private foundation money,” he said.
Other Management Services requests: The division also requested roughly $668,100 to maintain public-records (GovQA) and legal-access (LexisNexis, ATC access-to-courts) subscriptions; $77,400 in one-time training equipment (mannequins and a training vehicle); $1.5 million for IT replacement items (laptops, desktops and other hardware); and a one-time $85,000 special assistant U.S. attorney position for North Idaho focused on drug trafficking investigations (a three-year pilot proposal).
Follow-up asked for by lawmakers: Committee members pressed for Recidiviz performance metrics and for documentation of philanthropic matches and partners. Director Tewalt and the analyst offered to supply dashboards and further detail to the committee for review.
Next steps: The committee did not vote on ongoing Recidiviz funding; the request will be processed in the department’s budget package.
