House approves supplemental and enhancement funding for Department of Corrections after security incidents
March 26, 2025 | 2025 House Legislative Sessions, 2025 Legislative Sessions, Idaho
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The Idaho House on March 25 approved Senate Bill 11 75, the Department of Corrections budget package that included a supplemental appropriation for the prior year and an enhancement request for fiscal 2026 driven largely by inmate population growth and security concerns.
What passed: The budget package includes roughly $14.9 million in supplemental funding for the prior year and an enhancement request of approximately $23.75 million for FY2026 (figures cited on the floor by the sponsor). The supplemental was described as primarily covering costs associated with growth in the inmate population and rising medical costs.
Security-driven measures: Lawmakers cited a March 2024 incident in which an inmate transported to a hospital escaped following an ambush in which three IDOC officers were shot; the episode prompted the department to request one-time investments in surveillance and analysis tools. The department told the House it has acquired a mail digitization and analysis system (noted as a roughly $800,000 one-time purchase) to scan and transcribe inmate mail and analyze communications for coded messages, and a system to detect and log drones near facilities; the department reported detecting hundreds of drones in initial monitoring.
Other budget items: The package includes funding for additional trained transport personnel (12 positions to reduce overtime and improve emergency transport procedures), matching funds for body-worn cameras (federal funds cover most), funding tied to out-of-state placements and an increase in medical costs and inflationary pressures across operations.
Vote and next steps: The House approved the bill by 42 ayes, 27 nays, with 1 absent/excused. The bill will be transmitted for further processing as required by the legislative calendar.
Supporting detail: The department reported there are 9,767 inmates systemwide (about 8,177 in IDOC facilities, 584 out of state, and about 1,006 in county jails) and significant overtime totals at correctional facilities; sponsors argued the requested spending addresses known security gaps, population increases and inflationary pressures.
What passed: The budget package includes roughly $14.9 million in supplemental funding for the prior year and an enhancement request of approximately $23.75 million for FY2026 (figures cited on the floor by the sponsor). The supplemental was described as primarily covering costs associated with growth in the inmate population and rising medical costs.
Security-driven measures: Lawmakers cited a March 2024 incident in which an inmate transported to a hospital escaped following an ambush in which three IDOC officers were shot; the episode prompted the department to request one-time investments in surveillance and analysis tools. The department told the House it has acquired a mail digitization and analysis system (noted as a roughly $800,000 one-time purchase) to scan and transcribe inmate mail and analyze communications for coded messages, and a system to detect and log drones near facilities; the department reported detecting hundreds of drones in initial monitoring.
Other budget items: The package includes funding for additional trained transport personnel (12 positions to reduce overtime and improve emergency transport procedures), matching funds for body-worn cameras (federal funds cover most), funding tied to out-of-state placements and an increase in medical costs and inflationary pressures across operations.
Vote and next steps: The House approved the bill by 42 ayes, 27 nays, with 1 absent/excused. The bill will be transmitted for further processing as required by the legislative calendar.
Supporting detail: The department reported there are 9,767 inmates systemwide (about 8,177 in IDOC facilities, 584 out of state, and about 1,006 in county jails) and significant overtime totals at correctional facilities; sponsors argued the requested spending addresses known security gaps, population increases and inflationary pressures.
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