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Legislative analysts and DOC outline reentry expansions, opioid‑treatment pilot and staffing additions
Summary
The Department of Correction described planned growth in community reentry centers, probation and parole staffing increases and a pilot for medications for opioid use disorder; analysts said the Pocatello reentry center will require annualized personnel funding if expansion is approved.
Legislative analysts and Department of Correction officials briefed the committee on Feb. 4 about planned expansions in community reentry services and associated staffing.
Noah Peterson, budget and policy analyst, summarized the Community Corrections division. He said the division has about 511.35 FTP across community supervision and community reentry programs and that personnel accounts for roughly three‑quarters of expenditures. Peterson described a prior appropriation that added 20 FTP (for reentry specialists and operations) and that the 2026 budget request includes annualizing personnel costs for positions added mid‑fiscal year at the Pocatello Community Reentry Center.
Peterson said the Pocatello CRC personnel annualization would cost approximately $680,700 ongoing; if approved, the Pocatello center’s ongoing budget would be about $2.4 million. Other items discussed included $212,300 for general inflation across community operations and $1,574,100 for replacement items (vehicles, radios, kitchen equipment and resident clothing), all recommended by the governor.
On behavioral‑health treatment, Peterson said the agency requested funding for expanded drug testing (including fentanyl) and $750,000 for transitional housing and reintegration services. The division also requested two FTP to pilot medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) begun while people are incarcerated and to help case managers coordinate community treatment for reentry.
Director Josh Tewalt said the department has increased line staff in probation and parole and emphasized the need to pair accountability with services. He told the committee the department has previously moved to increase probation and parole staffing and to use data tools (e.g., Recidiviz) to prioritize officer time.
Senator Wintrow asked whether the department’s gap analysis of mental‑health and substance‑use services could be discussed in this section; Tewalt said the analysis belongs to the substance‑use division’s work but said the report shows “progress being made” and cited several thousand people receiving mental‑health or SUD services in recent reporting.
Ending: The committee did not vote on the requested annualizations and enhancements during the hearing. Agency and analyst staff said more detailed cost documentation and operational metrics could be provided on request.
