The Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) is requesting $45.3 million from state legislators to furnish and operate three new prison facilities, aiming to alleviate severe overcrowding in the state’s correctional system. The budget request, submitted earlier this month to the Division of Financial Management, addresses a critical shortage of inmate housing that has forced officials to house women in men’s prisons and send some offenders to county jails.
Overcrowding Crisis in Idaho Prisons
Idaho’s prison population currently stands at approximately 10,000 inmates, exceeding the system’s capacity of just over 8,200 beds. The shortage is particularly acute for female offenders, with the state housing nearly 1,400 women in state prisons as of last week. According to U.S. Department of Justice data, Idaho incarcerates women at the highest rate in the nation.
The overcrowding has created logistical challenges at the South Idaho Correctional Institution in Kuna. Originally designed exclusively for male inmates, the facility now houses about 300 men and 400 women. Warden Jennifer Tyvand noted that the mixed-gender environment requires staff to shut down much of the men’s side whenever female inmates need to walk through it for medical appointments, such as dental visits.
Women at the Kuna facility face significant limitations in their daily routines and living conditions. They lack access to ballfields and have restricted space for classrooms and work-training programs. Inmates reside in open areas with closely spaced bunk beds, even within the least restrictive housing units. Additionally, a waitlist exists for the pre-release center (PRC), which houses individuals eligible for work leave. Women who qualify for PRC but cannot secure a spot are placed in the medium-custody North Dorm, where they face more restricted outdoor hours.
New Facilities to Add Nearly 1,000 Beds
To resolve these issues, IDOC plans to open three new facilities within the next year. The largest of these is a dedicated women’s prison scheduled to open in December 2027. This new facility will provide 560 beds, directly addressing the state’s shortage of approximately 200 beds for female inmates.
The $45.3 million request covers ongoing operational expenses and one-time costs for furnishing and equipping the buildings. Specifically, IDOC is seeking $20.5 million in recurring funds and $12.4 million in initial startup costs for the new women’s facility alone. Previous legislative appropriations covered the construction of these buildings but did not include funding for staffing, furniture, or equipment.
In 2022, lawmakers approved House Bill 791, allocating $112.4 million for the new women’s prison and $37.6 million for medical annex improvements. Two years later, in 2024, the Legislature passed HB 768, appropriating $10 million for a new facility in Orofino. IDOC Director Bree Derrick emphasized that failing to open these completed facilities would leave nearly $200 million of taxpayer investment empty and unused.
Statewide Impact and Legislative Next Steps
The expansion of prison capacity is part of a broader effort to manage Idaho’s correctional population. The three new facilities will add nearly 1,000 beds to the state system, helping to return inmates from county jails and reduce the strain on local law enforcement resources in Kootenai County and across North Idaho.
Governor Brad Little is expected to unveil his state budget proposal in January, which will include IDOC’s funding requests. Legislators will review and appropriate funds during the 2027 legislative session. The timing of the new women’s facility opening in late 2027 aligns with this fiscal cycle, allowing for a phased transition of inmates from the Kuna facility to their dedicated housing.