Idaho Corrections Budget Grows Slightly
Lawmakers have approved a 3.5 percent increase for Idaho’s Department of Correction, with much of the boost going to contracted medical services and community-based treatment programs.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved the $189.4 million budget Monday, an increase of more than $6.4 million from the previous year.
The department is faced with full prisons and a growing inmate population, and included in the new budget is $1.5 million from the general fund to cover the cost of housing overflow inmates in county jails. Almost $1.3 million in general fund money will go to cover an annual rate adjustment for Corizon, the company that provides medical services for all the state prisons. Another $3.8 million will go to cover community-based treatment services, which is largely handled by private companies.
