Consultant sees costly prison need

BOISE – Idaho will need to spend more than $1 billion over the next 10 years on new prisons to keep up with a growing inmate population, according to a consultant hired by the state.

Steve Carter of Carter Goble Lee, a South Carolina consulting firm whose work focuses on strategic planning and building projects, told the Idaho Board of Correction on Friday the state could limit the increase of inmates with alternative sentencing programs. But he said that would likely only reduce the cost by about 10 percent.

“We urge you to go after all of these alternatives,” Carter told the board. “But you will not avoid having to build a significant number of beds.”

The state has about 7,100 inmates, and Carter predicted that at the current rate of inmate population growth the state will have to make room for 5,560 more inmates during the next decade.

He said the cost to build facilities to house those prisoners will be $1 billion, which doesn’t include operating costs, such as workers, parole officers and office space.

He recommended the state spend nearly $500 million over the next five years for additions to the Idaho Correctional Center south of Boise.

Brent Reinke, Department of Correction director, said he hoped the study is noted by lawmakers and Gov. Butch Otter, who have held off building new prisons.

Currently, Idaho pays to house about 500 inmates outside the state.

“When you start talking about needs that are this significant, you need to have that credibility,” said Reinke, whose budget for next year is $163 million. “It’s going to require us to all work together with these numbers as a backdrop.”

He said that next year he intends to ask lawmakers to approve a new prison for as many as 2,000 inmates. He also said he would like to see money approved for a secure mental health center.

State officials and lawmakers say one way of reducing inmate populations is alternative sentencing programs. Reinke said he is trying to get more help from sheriffs and counties to do just that.

Rep. Darrell Bolz, R-Caldwell, said lawmakers could help counties by giving them more money to pay for programs designed for that purpose.

“It’s going to save the state money down the road,” Bolz told the Idaho Statesman.

Carter said the state could bring down the prison population by changing how it “delivers justice.” Bolz said state lawmakers should look at what he called “tough sentencing.”

Department of Correction records show that one out of every 36 Idaho men is in prison, or on probation or parole.