While others seek to defund the police, we DEFEND the police
And my IDAHO FIRST plan Backs the Blue again, adding 10-percent pay raises for our brave and dedicated law enforcement officers. What does this mean for your average state police trooper? It means a $6,000 raise.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, while other places seek to defund the police, here in Idaho we DEFEND the police!
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature
, Jan 9, 2023
Idaho is a state that openly values its police officers
My Leading Idaho plan also makes other key investments to support law enforcement, our veterans, our valued members of the Idaho National Guard, and safe and secure elections.
I want to add more than $60 million to address needs within the Idaho State Police. Idaho is a state that openly values its police officers. While others seek to "defund the police," Idaho DEFENDS the police. Idaho truly is a state that "backs the blue."
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature
, Jan 10, 2022
Other places defund the police; Idaho defends the police
My plan invests in the items necessary to support frontline personnel at the Idaho State Police--and training for our local frontline police officers.
While other places seek to defund the police, I am proud to say that Idaho DEFENDS the police. Idaho "backs the blue."
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature
, Jan 11, 2021
Intervention better than incarceration to turn lives around
Two-thirds of Idaho inmates are in prison because of probation and parole violations--more than any other state in the country. Idaho taxpayers pay $110 million per year to incarcerate this population. I am seeking continued investments in community
reentry centers, where inmates returning to our neighborhoods can learn job and life skills. The cost of investing in proven interventions that help inmates turn their lives around before they reoffend is fractional to the cost of incarceration.
Source: 2020 Idaho State of the State address
, Jan 6, 2020
Expand community re-entry centers for former offenders
We must hold those who violate our laws accountable, but we also must invest in changing their behavior, so our communities will be safer once offenders pay their debt to society.
My budget recommendation takes on this challenge in a way that provides
not only an increase in our prison capacity but also the resources needed to reduce the flow of inmates to our prisons. This will be done by expanding the St. Anthony Work Camp in eastern Idaho and opening a community reentry center in northern Idaho.
In addition to providing timely relief to Idaho's overcrowded prisons, these combined 220 beds focus specifically on helping those in custody acquire critical skills to successfully transition back into society after release.
Former offenders cannot
be successful after reentry and on parole if we don't have the necessary bed space and programs--such as drug courts--to halt the revolving door.