>> HAVE BUDGET CUTS IN THE CORRECTION DEPARTMENT JEOPARDIZED PUBLIC SAFETY?

AS THE LEGISLATURE BEGINS ANOTHER ROUND OF REDUCTION, WE'LL LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES FACING THE STATE AGENCY.

CALL IN WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.

"DIALOGUE" IS NEXT.

>> THANK YOU NOR SCWOING US HERE ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION ON THE WORLDWIDE WEB, AND ON PUBLIC RADIO STATIONS.

>> LAST DECEMBER THE HEAD OF IDAHO'S CORRECTIONAL DEPARTMENT SENT UP A RED FLAG IN THE FORM OF AN OP ED.

IN IT, HE CITED LEGISLATIVE AUDITORS' WARNINGS THAT THE STATE'S PRISONS WERE DANGEROUSLY UNDERSTAFFED.

THAT HIS AGENCY WAS SEEING A 24% TURNOVER IN THE RANKS OF ITS CORRECTAL OFFICERS.

CORRECTION EMPLOYEES TOOK MORE THAN 78,000 FURLOUGH HOURS IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, AND REDUCED THEIR RANKS BY MORE THAN 100 POSITIONS.

BUT DESPITE THE BUDGET SQUEEZE, THE AGENCY HAD SOME SUCCESSES.

NOTED BY GOVERNOR OTTER IN HIS STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH.

>> AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS DIRECTOR BRENT REINKE AND OLIVIA CRAVEN HAVE IMPROVED OFFENDER ASSESSMENT AND PLACEMENT THAT ARE MAKING BETTER USE OF RETAINED JURISDICTION PROGRAMS.

THAT'S SAVING $32 MILLION AND HOLDING OUR INMATE POPULATION MORE THAN 1500 BELOW OUR EARLIER PROJECTIONS.

>> IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, OTTER PROPOSES INCREASING THE CORRECTION DEPARTMENT BUDGET BY 5.5%.

ONE OF THE FEW STATE AGENCIES TO GET A BUMP UP.

BUT IS IT ENOUGH?

WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER ISSUES FACING THE DEPARTMENT, LIKE THE PROBLEMS AT THE STATE'S PRIVATELY RUN PRISON?

JOINING ME NOW TO DISCUSS THIS IS CHIEF OF OPERATION IS KEVIN KEMPF.

GIVE USA CALL, TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-973-9800.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY WITH A DANGEROUSLY UNDERSTAFFED IS A VERY SCARY PHRASE R OUR PRISONS UNSAFE?

IS THERE A POSSIBLE PROBLEM IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM?

>> THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO, AND THERE'S A LOT WHEN WE WERE THINKING B. I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW WE WERE GOING TO CRAFT THAT PARTICULAR STATEMENT.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE DID LAST YEAR.

LAST FISCAL YEAR, TO TRY TO GET -- WRAP UP THE YEAR WITH AS MANY SAVINGS AS WE POSSIBLY COULD TO HELP THE OVERALL STAGE BUDGET.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THAT WE HELD LARGE NUMBER OF POSITIONING OPEN TOWARD THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AND OF COURSE THE STATE FISCAL YEAR RUNS FROM JULY 1st TO JUNE 30th.

WE HELD A LOT OF POSITIONS OPEN, I THINK AT ONE POINT IN THE LAST WEEK OF THE LAST MONTH OF THE FISCAL YEAR WE HAD SOME 87 POSITIONS OPEN.

WE DID THAT INTENTIONALLY TO ACQUIRE SOME SAVINGS TO HELP JUST IN CASE SOMETHING DID OCCUR THAT WE DIDN'T REALIZE FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT ON A STATEWIDE BASIS.

WHEN YOU TAKE THOSE KINDS OF NUMBERS AND THEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE 116th, WE HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVE PERSONNEL THAT ARE CURRENTLY SERVING OVERSEAS.

WE HAVE LONG-TERM SICKNESS IN SOME STAFF, WE'VE GOT OVERTIME, COMP TIME, VACATION TIME, SICK TIME, AND YOU PUT FURLOUGHS ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE.

AND THE INTENT OF THAT PARTICULAR ARTICLE WAS TO SPEAK TO OUR STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES, HOW MUCH WE VALUE THEM, THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SUCCESSES, EVEN IN DIFFICULT TIMES.

OUR FACILITIES ARE SAFE.

BUT WE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISIONS EVERY DAY IN OUR FACILITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

WHEN THE OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE EVALUATORS DID THEIR WORK, THEY FOUND THAT WE'RE SHORT IN SOME KEY AREAS.

AND WE'VE KNOWN THAT FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

BUT WE MAKE GOOD CHOICES EVERY DAY, AND WE MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SAFETY POSITION WITHIN OUR FACILITIES ARE STAFFED EVERY SHIFT.

>> HOW DO YOU KEEP A STAFF GOING WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MUCH FURLOUGH TIME?

THAT'S A REDUCTION IN THEIR SALARY, BUT THEY ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM OF TRYING TO MAKE UP TIME, SO THEY GET OVERTIME, THEY GET SO MUCH OVERTIME THEY CAN'T TAKE THEIR OVERTIME BECAUSE THEY STILL NEED TO WORK.

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN A STAFF UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES?

>> WELL, FORTUNATELY FOR US OUR STAFF WILL COME TO US, DON'T COME WITH THE EXPECTATION OF GETTING RICH.

THEY COME WITH THEIR HEARTS IN THE RIGHT PLACE, LIKE ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE, THEY WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

THEY WANT TO LIVE BY A MISSION AND A CREED OF PROTECTING THE PUBLIC, AND SO I THINK FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR STAFF, THEY'RE IN IT FOR A LONG HAUL.

THEY'RE IN IT FOR THE GOOD TIMES, FOR THE BAD TIMES, FOR THE DIFFICULT TIMES, BUT I WOULD AGREE A HUNDRED PERCENT WITH THE DIRECTOR, OUR PRISONS ARE SAFE, AS A MATTER OF FACT THEY'RE AMONGST THE SAFEST PRISONS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> IT COSTS YOU ABOUT 15,000 DOLLARS TO TRAIN SOMEONE NEW SOMEWHERE AROUND IN THERE?

THAT CAN'T BE -- THAT'S NOT CHEAP.

>> WHEN WE HAVE A NEW C.O., ESPECIALLY SINCE WE WERE THINKING ABOUT CORRECTIONS OFFICERS AT THAT POINT, AND OUR TURNOVER RATE LARGELY IS IN THE CORRECTIONS AREA, MAINLY BECAUSE THAT'S OUR LARGEST DIVISION, OUR LARGEST WORK CENTER WITHIN THIS DEPARTMENT.

WE HAVE 10 PRISONS ACROSS THE STATE, EIGHT ARE PUBLICLY OPERATED, TWO ARE PRIVATELY OPERATED.

SO WHEN WE GO OUT TO RECRUIT AS WE HAD TO, AND WE RECRUITED VERY HEAVILY TOWARD THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AND WE RAN EXTRA ACADEMIES, WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR CONTRACTORS TO BE ABLE TO GET OUR STAFFING LEVELS BACK UP, BECAUSE WE ACQUIRED SOME 6,000 HOURS OF OVERTIME IN THAT PERIOD TRYING TO GET THOSE POSITIONS FILLED AGAIN.

THAT LED TO A LOT OF BURNOUT.

TO A LOT OF FRUSTRATION.

BUT WHEN WE BRING NEW C.O.s ONLINE, AND ABOUT THE FIRST 10 TO 12 WEEKS WE'LL SPEND BETWEEN $14-15,000.

SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT A PROJECTED TURNOVERS RATE OF 24 TO 25%, THAT GIVES US PAUSE TO CONCERN.

CHIEF SCEMP GOING TO BE LOOKING VERY CLOSELY WE CAN ENGAGE OUR WARDS, OUR DEPUTY WARDS, OUR LIEUTENANTS, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THOSE C.O.s TO REALLY TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AND TRY TO HANG ON TO THAT STAFF AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY MAY HAVE -- THEY MAY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND WHY THEY'RE DOCTOR, BUT WE WANT THEIR HEARTS TO BE ENGAGED AS WELL.

>> EVERY STATE AGENCY CAN PROBABLY, AND A LOT OF PRIVATE COMPANIES COMPLAIN OF THE SAME THING.

NOT ENOUGH PAY, TOO MANY OVERTIME HOURS, YOU CAN'T TAKE OFF BECAUSE SOMEONE'S GOT TO DOT JOB.

BUT THESE ARE YOUR PRISONS.

WHAT DO LEGISLATORS TELL YOU WHEN YOU SAY, THESE ARE THE STAFFS, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH?

>> WELL, I WILL ANSWER IT THE SAME WAY I ANSWER ADD FEW WEEKS AGO, WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO LIVE IN THE STATE OF IDAHO.

FRANKLY WE HAVE A LOT OF SUPPORT, 100% SUPPORT FROM OUR GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, FROM OUR LEGISLATURE, WE TRULY FEEL LIKE WE'RE PARTNERS WITH THEM.

>> YOU HAVE -- YOU DON'T HAVE A HUNDRED PERCENT FUNDING.

>> WE HAVE THE FUNDING NECESSARY TO KEEP IDAHO PRISONS SAFE, IDAHO PUBLIC SAFE, AND IT'S JUST NOT JUST TALK.

OUR STATISTICS AND HISTORY DEMONSTRATES THAT.

>> LET ME CHANGE SUBJECTS, IT WAS NOT ALL BAD NEWS.

PRISON NUMBERS WERE DOWN.

WHY WERE YOUR NUMBERS DOWN?

>> ACTUALLY -- >> THAT WAS GOOD NEWS.

>> VERY GOOD NEWS.

AND THAT WAS THE HEART OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO SAY IN THAT PARTICULAR STATEMENT.

OUR NUMBERS ARE DOWN BECAUSE WE STARTED LOOKING AT WAYS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SOME FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO, I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING HERE FOUR YEARS, BUT SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE THAT WE STARTED LOOKING AT PROGRAMMING.

MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN INDIVIDUALS, IN PEOPLE WE HAVE INCARCERATED SO THEY CAN BE MORE SUCCESSFUL UPON RELEASE.

WE REALLY STARTED SEEING THE BENEFIT OF WORKING NOT ONLY AS A DEPARTMENT, BUT AS A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WORKING WITH THE COURTS VERY CLOSELY, THE PAROLE COMMISSION.

THE OFFICE OF DRUG POLICY, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE.

IN TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO BE ABLE TO LEVERAGE THEIR RESOURCES AND OUR RESOURCES TO HAVE BETTER OUTCOMES.

FISCAL YEAR EIGHT WITH HAD NO GROWTH, NINE WHEY NO GROWTH.

WITH THE BUDGET CUTS AND THE LOSS OF MANY COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, WE SAW 3% GROWTH LAST YEAR.

AND WE'RE PROACT JECTED FOR ABOUT A 3% GROWTH THIS YEAR.

BUT I THINK WE FOUND THAT ELEMENT TO HELP BALANCE THIS STEM.

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AS THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED ON MONDAY, I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR HIS COMMENTS, AS HE SAID, WE'VE NOW REALIZED THROO $32 MILLION COST.

THAT'S $32 MILLION WE DON'T HAVE TO ARGUE FOR, $32 MILLION THAT HELPS OUR STATE.

AND THAT'S A REWARD FOR OUR STAFF, AND IT'S A REWARD FOR A JOB WELL DONE.

>> SO THIS IS THE RETAINED JURISDICTION.

HAVE YOU DEFINED RETAINED JURISDICTION BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT IT.

>> WELL, WHAT A RETAINED JURISDICTION PERSON IS IS SOMEONE THAT ACTUALLY STAYS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS.

AND SO THEY DON'T TAKE THAT FULL STEP INTO OUR PRISON SYSTEM TO WHERE THEY FALL INTO THE PAROLE COMMISSION.

SO THEY'LL SPEND A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME WITHIN ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS IN OUR INSTITUTIONS, IF THAT INMATE IS SUCCESSFUL IN GOING THROUGH THAT PROGRAM, THEY'LL GET KICKED BACK IN FRONT OF THAT JUDGE AND THAT JUDGE WILL ULTIMATELY MAKE THE DECISION WHETHER THEY GO TO PROBATION OR ARE RELINQUISH AND GO BACK TO PRISON.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR FIRST PHONE CALLER.

RYAN IN IDAHO FALLS.

RYAN?

GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: HI.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> GOOD.

GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: I JUST WAS CURRENTLY IN PRISON, I WAS DOING A RIDER AS WELL AS A PAROLE VIOLATOR.

WHAT I -- WHEN I WENT TO THE PAROLE COMMISSION, THEY DIDN'T EVEN RECOGNIZE MY RETAINED JURISDICTION.

THE PAROLE COMMISSION WAS PRETTY MUCH UNAWARE WHAT THE RETAINER ENTAILED.

>> LET ME ASK ABOUT THAT.

THANK YOU, RYAN, FOR YOUR CALL.

WE SHOULD PROBABLY EXPLAIN FOR VIEWERS WHO MAY NOT KNOW, THE CORRECTION DEPARTMENT TAKES PEOPLE IN AND LETS -- TAKES IT TO THE PAROLE COMMISSION, THE PAROLE COMMISSION IS THE AGENT STAY THAT DECIDES WHO GETS OUT AND WHEN THEY GET OUT.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE COURTS ARE THE FRONT DOR AND THE PAROLE COMMISSION IS THE BACK DOOR.

WE TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING IN THE MIDDLE.

THAT'S AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT.

BUT I THINK THE CHIEF CAN ANSWER THIS QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU, RYAN, FOR THE CALL, FIRST OFF.

AND JOAN, IT'S DIFFICULT TO ANSWER OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE RYAN'S FULL CASE AND BACKGROUND AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH DIRECTOR CRAVEN AND THE PAROLE COMMISSION.

AGAIN, NOT JUST TALK, BUT I THINK THEIR PRACTICES SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AS IT RELATES TO PUBLIC SAFETY, MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS, AND CHOICES ON WHO GETS PAROLE AND WHO DOESN'T.

SO WITHOUT REALLY KNOWING TOO MUCH OF RYAN'S BACKGROUND, IT'S DIFFICULT FOR ME TO REALLY TALK TO OR SPEAK TO.

>> BOTH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE PROBATION -- PAROLE COMMISSION CAME UNDER SCRUTINY THIS PAST YEAR FROM A LEGISLATIVE STUDY THAT SHOWED PROBLEMS WITHIN THE TWO INSTITUTIONS OR AT LEAST IN THE -- HOW -- MOST OF THE FOCUS WAS ON THE PAROLE COMMISSION.

HOW ON YOUR SIDE OF THE FENCE IN THAT MIDDLE AREA, HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED THINGS IN THE LAST YEAR TO TRY TO MAKE THE SYSTEM SMOOTHER SO THAT PEOPLE AREN'T SPENDING A LOT OF TIME BEYOND THEIR PAROLE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

BECAUSE IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS WE'VE INITIATED WHAT WE CALL TREATMENT PATHWAYS.

AND EVERY INMATE WE HAVE IN CUSTODY IS NOW ON A PATHWAY BASED ON THEIR ASSESSED NEED AND ASSESSED RISK.

AND SO WHEN WE HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL ON A PATHWAY, WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN THE RIGHT BED AT THE RIGHT TIME, SO THAT WHEN THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND BEFORE THE PAROLE COMMISSION, THEY HAVE MET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THAT COMMISSION TO ATTAIN RELEASE.

SO WE'VE GOT GREAT THINGS HAPPENING IN THAT AREA, AND THE CHIEF HAS DONE A GREAT JOB, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COURT AND AGAIN WITH DIRECTOR CRAVEN ON DEVELOPING A VIOLATION MATRIX THAT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS HELP AS WELL AS FAR AS A TOOL TO BE ABLE TO HELP KEEP OUR POPULATION DOWN.

>> HAVE YOU SEEN SOME CHANGES SINCE THE LEGISLATURE -- LEGISLATIVE OFFICE PERFORMANCE REVIEW CAME OUT?

>> YEAH.

WOULD I SAY WE HAVE.

I THINK WE -- IN THIS CASE THE PAROLE COMMISSION, I THINK WE EMBRACED WHAT WAS TALKED ABOUT IN THAT REPORT.

THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME THINGS I ANY ALL DEPARTMENTS WHERE IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO IS A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF JOSHTEWALT, YES ABLE TO SPEND A COUPLE DAYS IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, AND WE WERE ABLE TO GO AND EVALUATE ARE WHAR THEY WERE DOING TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM AT THE SAME TIME KEEPING THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY EXPECTATIONS AT A HIGH LEVEL.

WE CAME BACK AND ADOPTED SOME OF THOSE PRACTICES.

AND THAT VIOLATION MATRIX IS ONE OF THEM.

WHAT THAT SIMPLY DOES IS JUST, WE USE BEST PRACTICES AND RESEARCH TO DETERMINE WHO SHOULD BE GETTING SENT BACK TO PRISON, AND WHO SHOULD MAYBE BE DEFERRED IN A COMMUNITY PROGRAM.

ONCE WE PUT THAT IN PLACE, WE'VE SEEN SOME EXCELLENT RESULTS.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TOO, JOAN, WE'VE TAKEN THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS, THEIR AUDIT, WE'VE TAKEN IT VERY SERIOUSLY, AND WE'VE TAKEN GREAT STEPS FROM A PROCEDURAL STANDPOINT, FROM A STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE STAN POINT, TO IMPLEMENT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, BECAUSE THEY DID MAKE SOME VERY SOLID AND SOUND RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE ARE SEEING SOME GOOD OUTCOMES FROM THAT POINT.

>> I'M GOING TO JUMP TOPIC AGAIN TO THE IDAHO CORRECTIONS CENTER.

WHICH IS RUN BY A PRIVATE COMPANY, A CORPORATION CORRECTION OF AMERICA.

THE PRISON HAS EARNED THE NICKNAME OF THE GLADIATOR SCHOOL FOR THE AMOUNT OF INMAIN-ON-INMATE VIOLENCE.

THERE IS AN FBI INVESTIGATION GOING ON CURRENTLY.

HOW DOES THAT -- HOW MUCH DOES THAT CONCERN YOU, AND SHOULD WE CHANGE THE CONTRACT WITH CCA IN HOW IT RUNS THE PRISON?

>> IF I MIGHT, THE MANAGING COMPANY IS THE CORRECTIONS CORPORATION OF AMERICA OUT OF TENNESSEE.

AND WE HAVE WORKED WITH THAT PARTICULAR CORPORATION, THEY WERE IN OUR -- WE'RE IN OUR 11th YEAR OF WORKING WITH THEM.

WE JUST STARTED THAT 11th YEAR.

WE ARE ALWAYS CONCERNED WITH VIOLENCE.

WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF STAFF IN ALL OF OUR 10 PRISONS, AND WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR INMATE, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE CULTURE WITHIN OUR FACILITIES.

AS YOU CAN WELL IMAGINE, WITH THE LITIGATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WE CAN'T GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR SERIES OF ARTICLES THAT ARE OUT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH MR.

TIM WANTLER, HE IS OUR NEW WARD AS OF MARCH OF THIS LAST YEAR.

HE'S A GOOD PROFESSIONAL, HE'S GOT A GOOD CORRECTIONAL MIND, GOOD CORRECTIONAL PRACTICES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH HIM ON IMPLEMENTING.

WE HAVE INCREASED OUR MONITORING STAFF IN THAT PARTICULAR PRISON, OUR MONITORS ARE THERE MONITORING AND AUDIT CAN, AND WORKING ON CONTRACTS AND DAILY OPERATIONS, AND THEIR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES ARE OUR STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON HELPING TO GET THOSE IMPLEMENTED.

WE ARE SEEING SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT AREA.

>> HOW DO THEY GET TO THAT POINT?

>> THERE'S A LOT TO THAT STORY.

AND AGAIN, I CAN'T GO INTO A LOT OF DETAIL, WE CAN TALK A LOT ABOUT SINCE LAST FEBRUARY, BUT PRIOR TO LAST FEBRUARY WE NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE OF LITIGATION.

I'M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND.

>> I DO.

DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE -- ONE MORE TRY -- IS THERE GOING TO BE A CHANGE IN THAT CONTRACT?

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE LOOKING THAT THE CONTRACT ON A WEEK IN AND WEEK OUT BASIS.

THAT'S WHY WE'VE ENHANCED OUR MONDAY TOFERS, WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, WORKING CLOSELY WITH PURCHASING.

IN THE STATE OF IDAHO, THE DEPARTMENT OF PURCHASING ACTUALLY OWNS THAT CONTRACT, WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR HOW AND WHAT GOES INTO THAT CONTRACT.

AND SO OUR MONITORS ARE CONTINUALLY WORKING TO IMPROVE OUR PROCESS, WE ARE SEEING SOME GOOD THINGS COME OUT OF THE FACILITY.

WE'VE GOT A LONG WAYS TO GO, BUT WE'RE WELL ON OUR WAY.

>> ABOUT 85%, IF MY NUMBERS ARE CORRECT, OF THE PEOPLE WHO GO INTO PRISON HAVE SOME SORT OF DRUG OR ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY ISSUE.

HOW IS TREATMENT IN OUR PRISONS?

>> WELL -- >> BOTH THE PRIVATE AND THE PUBLIC.

>> SURE.

WELL, I THINK WE'RE A STATE THAT BELIEVES IN USING BEST PRACTICES, RESEARCH, AND TREATMENT RELATED PROGRAMS.

AND I THINK IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THAT, BECAUSE WE'VE COMMITTED AS A STATE TO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, WE BENEFIT FROM ONE OF THE LOWEST RECIDIVISM RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

IT HOVERS AROUND 37%.

THAT'S OUTSTANDING.

BECAUSE JOAN, YOU'LL KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF OUR VIEWERS WILL KNOW THE VAST MAJORITY OF INMATES ARE COMING OUT OF OUR PRISONS.

THAT'S A SIMPLE FACT.

THEY'RE COMING OUT.

AND A LITTLE EXAMPLE I GAVE NOT TOO LONG AGO, I WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND WHOSE WIFE IS AN AVID JOGGER ON THE GREEN BELT, AND I WAS GETTING RIBBED ABOUT, WHAT ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS, WHAT ABOUT THIS TREATMENT, HOW CAN YOU DON'T MAKE THOSE INMATES MAKE BIG ROCKS OUT OF SMALLER ROCKS, VICE VERSA?

AND I EXPLAINED, WELL, LET ME EXPLAIN TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF INMATES.

YOU TELL ME WHICH ONE YOU WANT YOUR WIFE TO FACE IN THE GREEN BELT TONIGHT.

A COMES INTO OUR PRISON SYSTEM, ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS GET MORE TATTOOS, SUNBATHE, AND SIT ON A BED EVERY DAY.

AND THEY DO THAT FOR FIVE OR SIX YEARS AND GET OUT.

INMATE B COMES INTO OUR FACILITY AND WE DO SOMETHING WITH THEM.

WE PUT THAT INMATE IN THE TREATMENT BED.

WE TRY TO CHANGE THE WAY HE THINKS.

WE GIVE HIM EDUCATION.

WE GIVE HIM JOB SKILLS.

THEN WE DO A STRUCTURED REENTRY BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, ALL WITH SUPERVISION, ALL COMING OUT WITH A PAROLE OFFICER.

NOW, YOU TELL ME, WHICH INMATE WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR WIFE TO FACE ON THAT GREEN BELT TONIGHT AT 6:00 P.M.?

>> BECAUSE EVENTUALLY THEY WILL.

>> THEY'RE COMING GLOWT 98% DO.

>> LET'S GO TO LEAF IN REXBERG.

GO AHEAD.

>> Caller: DIRECTOR REINKE, I WAS CURIOUS WITH REGARDS TO I BELIEVE THERE'S SOME PROPOSED CUTBACKS IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE COMMUNITY, AND I WAS WONDERING IF THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE COMMITMENTS TO THE DEPARTMENT AND HOW YOU MIGHT HANDLE THAT.

>> LET ME REPEAT THAT QUESTION MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT IT RIGHT.

YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW CUTBACKS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE GOING TO AFFECT THE CORRECTIONAL -- CORRECTION DEPARTMENT?

>> Caller: YES.

>> AND THE SERVICES PROVIDED -- SO HOW ARE MENTAL SERVICE -- HEALTH SERVICES CUTS GOING TO AFFECT THE DEPARTMENT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WE HAVE ESTABLISHED IN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS BAIFL HEALTH UNITS AT OUR -- ONE OF OUR MAIN YARDS, IN SOUTH BOISE AT ISCI.

THAT'S A FACILITY THAT FOCUSES ON -- IT'S A HOUSING UNIT WITHIN THAT -- WITHIN THE PRISON THAT FOCUSES ON MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS.

WE ALSO HAVE A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH UNIT AT PWCC IN POCATELLO FOR OUR FEMALE POPULATION.

AND WE'VE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OF WORKING FROM AN EDUCATION AND TREATMENT STANDPOINT OF PROA TEGHTING THOSE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

>> DO YOU HAVE A CONCERN THAT AS MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ARE CUT TO THE OUTSIDE POPULATION, THAT WE'RE GOING TO START SEEING ISSUES FROM THAT AS WE UNFORTUNATELY SAW IN TUSCON THIS WEEK, THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AREN'T BEING ADDRESSED IN THE COMMUNITY, TRAGIC THINGS CAN OCCUR?

DO YOU HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT?

>> WE DO.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

AND THAT'S -- THAT WAS, AS I MENTION ADD FEW MOMENTS AGO, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE 3% PROJECTED INCREASE IN OUR POPULATION, A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE THE FACT THAT WE'VE -- WE'RE LOSING SOME COMMUNITY-BASED RESOURCES AROUND THE STATE OF IDAHO.

AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE VERY IMPORTANT AS WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE, AND A GROUP THAT I THINK WE'VE BEEN WORKING WE VES LOY WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ON, FROM A TRANSFORMATIONAL STANDPOINT LOOKING AT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES LOCALLY, THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD.

EVEN IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.

SERVICES NEED TO BE PROVIDED AS NEEDED IN THE -- AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL, AND WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT, WE DEFINITELY ARE LOOKING FOR FUNDING SOURCES, AND THAT WILL HELP US, BECAUSE 14,000 OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE MANAGE ARE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY UNDER PROBATION AND PAROLE.

IN THE STATE OF IDAHO, WE MANAGE ONE OUT OF EVERY 34 ADULT MEN.

AND ONE OUT OF EVERY 156 ADULT WOMEN.

SO WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN THE FORM MUCH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, SO WE CAN OFFER SERVICES WITHIN OUR PRISONS AS WELL AS WITHIN OUR PROBATION AND PAROLE OFFICES AND THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF IDAHO.

WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR SISTER AGENCY TO TRY TO FILL THAT GAP AS WELL.

>> AS PART OF THE BUDGET CRISIS, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S SOME FEE INCREASES COMING UP.

THIS WAS AN INTERESTING LIST.

LET ME FIND MY NOTES HERE.

THERE WAS GOING TO BE INCREASED FEE FOR THE PROBATION REGULARS, AND INCREASED FEE FOR THE INCORRESPOND RATION FEE, THE COST OF SUPERVISION, APPLICATION FEE FOR VISITORS WHO NEED THEIR SECURITY CLEARANCE, INCREASED COSTS FOR USING VIDEO VISITING SERVICES, SO HOW MUCH DOES IT REALLY COST TO GO TO JAIL THESE DAYS?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND SOME OF THESE FEES EXIST AND SOME DON'T.

THERE ARE TWO OF THESE THAT WILL REQUIRE LEGISLATION.

THE INVESTIGATION PROPOSED FEE, WE DID 4,800 -- PROBABLY 4800, 4850 PRESENTENCE INVESTIGATIONS LAST YEAR AT A COST OF ABOUT $2.2 MILLION.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT AND WE'RE PROPOSING IS $100 FEE FOR THAT INVESTIGATION, TO HELP OFFSET EXPENSES.

IT'S A CORRECTIONAL USER FEE IS WHAT IT WOULD BE.

IT DOESN'T EXIST, AND WITH A WE'RE LOOKING AT, KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE FACING SOME BUDGET CUTS, ARE LOOKING AT THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT -- >> I CAN'T IMAGINE THIS POPULATION HAS A LOT OF MONEY.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

AND THAT'S WHY WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE AT LEAST 25% OF OUR POPULATION THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY OR WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS WHAT THEY DO PAY.

THE COST OF SUPERVISION FEE,S CURRENTLY $50.

WE'RE GOING TO BE PROPOSING THAT BE -- >> $A DAY?

>> A MONTH.

>> OK.

>> 50 A MONTH, WE'RE LOOKING AT A PROPOSAL OF AN ADDITIONAL $10.

THE VISITOR APPLICATION FEE, LAST YEAR WE DID 13,500 BACKGROUNDS ON POTENTIAL VISITORS.

IT TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 15 TO 40 MINUTES PER BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION.

WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT A $10 REQUEST THERE.

THESE ARE IDEAS THAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD.

IT'S A USER BASED APPROACH, THE VIDEO VISITATION, WE DON'T HAVE THAT CURRENTLY.

AND SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP US ON MULTIPLE LEVELS WITHIN OUR AGENCY.

SO WHEN WE START TALKING ABOUT THESE OPPORTUNITIES, THERE'S A COUPLE OF OTHERS THAT I THINK ARE INTERESTING TOO.

ONE IS SET FOR PURCHASING, ANOTHER IS FLEET MANAGEMENT.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO A MUCH BETTER JOB AS A DEPARTMENT WITH THE RESOURCES THAT WE'RE ENTRUSTED WITH, SO WE'RE LOOKING HIGH AND LOW AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN TO MAKE EVERY DOLLAR STRETCH AS FAR AS WE CAN, AND YET IN THAT PROCESS, WE'RE TRYING TO BUY BETTER AND USE THE RESOURCE BETTER.

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF PHONE CALLERS ON HOLD, PETER AND GLEN, AND WE'LL GET TO YOU WHEN WE GO TO THE FLIP SIDE ON OUR WEB EXTRA.

SO PETER AND GLEN, STAY WITH US ON THE DISPOAN WE'LL CATCH YOUR QUESTION ON OUR WEB EXTRA.

WE'VE ONLY GOOD FEW MINUTES LEFT.

I WANT TO GIVE YOU EACH A CHANCE TO TAKE A MORE PHILOSOPHICAL QUESTION -- WHAT DO YOU SEE PRISON AND THE CORRECTION SYSTEM LOOKING LIKE IN FIVE YEARS, OR 10 YEARS?

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO HAVE IN THE FUTURE?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

>> WE'RE LAUGHING A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES, JUST IN THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS.

WHAT IS CORRECTIONS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN FIVE OR 10 OR 15 YEARS?

I THINK ONE WORD THAT WOULD SUM IT UP WOULD BE INNOVATIVE.

WE ARE GOING TO USE THINGS LIKE TECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE OUR PRACTICES.

INCREASE WHAT SITS ATOP OUR MISSION STATEMENT, WHICH IS PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE AS OUR COUNTRY MOVES TO BE INNOVATIVE AND NOT STAGNANT AND LOOKING AT CONSTANTLY DOING THINGS JUST THE WAY WE'VE ALWAYS DONE THEM.

WE WANT TO BE INNOVATIVE AND BE ABLE TO BE FAST AND MOVE QUICKLY WHEN THINGS NEED TO BE PUT INTO EFFECT THAT AGAIN, ARE GOING TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC.

>> I THINK WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE TALKED -- YOU STARTED THE PROGRAM TALKING ABOUT SEVERAL SUCCESSES, AND WHEN WE LOOKED AT OUR FUTURE BACK IN 2008, WE SAW THE PROJECTED AT THAT POINT BY EXPERTS IN THE CORRECTIONAL FIELD, OUTSIDE OF IDAHO THAT CAME IN AND LOOKED AT OUR SYSTEM, THEY PROJECTED THAT WE WOULD HAVE OVER 9,000 INMATES BY THIS TIME, 2011.

WHAT THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED ON MONDAY AND COST AVOIDANCE OF 32 MILLION DOLLARS, THAT WAS THAT 9,000 NUMBER THAT.

WAS THAT EXTRA 1500 INMATES WOE WOULD HAVE IN STATE'S CUSTODY.

WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH IN THAT TIME PERIOD, THAT COST AVOIDANCE, SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY, THAT'S FUNNY MONEY, YOU NEVER -- >> IT IS.

>> YOU NEVER HAD THAT MONEY TO BEGIN WITH.

BUT I'M TELLING YOU, IF WE WERE SITTING HERE TONIGHT AND WE HAD THAT 9,000 INMATES IN CUSTODY, THAT WOULDN'T BE VERY FUNNY.

IT WOULD BE VERY, VERY SERIOUS.

AND IT WOULD PUT US IN A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT SITUATION THAN WHERE WE ARE.

I THINK WHEN WE START LOOKING AT CORRECTIONS IN THE FUTURE, WE NEED TO KEEP DOING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.

EVERY TIME WE FIND AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESET, WHEN WE FIND AN INEFFICIENT AREA, WE TRY TO RESET IT.

NOT ONLY WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, BUT WORKING WITH ALL OF OUR PARTNERS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

WHAT WE'VE DONE, WHAT THE LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAVE DONE TO SUPPORT PROBLEMS HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.

WE'RE SEEING GREAT THINGS IN THAT AREA.

THE RELATIONSHIP WE'VE FOSTERED WITH THE PAROLE COMMISSION HAS BEEN OUTSTANDING.

WE NEED TO TAKE THAT AND RAISE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

AND INTO THE NEXT LEVEL.

BECAUSE WE DOCK BETTER.

WE ALWAYS CAN.

SINT ABOUT BUILDING MORE PRISONS.

THERE'S DEFINITELY A REPLACEMENT FACTOR IN WHAT WE NEED TO BE WORKING ON.

BECAUSE OUR PRISONS ARE WEARING OUT.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

BUT AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, AS THE CHIEF HAS SAID, WE NEED TO BE AS INNOVATIVE AND FORWARD-THINKING AS WE CAN.

>> JERKS WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TO OUR CALLERS WHO ARE WITH US ON THE PHONE, WE'LL CATCH YOU ON THE FLIP SIDE WHEN WE DO OUR WEB EXTRA.

AGAIN, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

I FU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IDAHO'S CORRECTION DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE LOTS OF INFORMATION FOR ON YOU OUR WEBSITE.

CHECK IT OUT, GO TO IDAHOPTV.ORG AND CLICK ON "DIALOGUE."

FOR MORE LEGISLATIVE NEWS, TUNE IN TO IDAHO REPORTS.

FRIDAY NIGHTS AT 8:00 P.M., REPEATS SUNDAYS AT 11:30 A.M.

MOUNTAIN, AND CHECK OUT LEGISLATURE LIVE COVERAGE ANY TIME AT IDAHOPTV.ORG.

THANK FOR TUNING IN.

AND JOIN US NEXT TIME FOR "DIALOGUE."

Captioning performed by LNS Captioning www.LNScaptioning.com