Idaho’s prisons are beyond capacity, and the consequences are hitting taxpayers, families, and the justice system all at once. New budget figures from the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) show the state is incarcerating more than 10,000 people despite having space for just over 8,200 in its prisons. When beds run out, Idaho sends people…
One of the most basic promises in the Constitution is simple: the government does not get to kick in your door without a judge’s permission. That principle is not symbolic — it is the core protection of the Fourth Amendment. A newly revealed internal ICE directive suggests the federal government may be trying to sidestep…
Suicides in jails are a growing and deeply concerning issue, with many facilities across the country struggling to prevent these tragic events. Incarcerated individuals, often facing mental health challenges and isolation, are at a higher risk of taking their own lives. Despite efforts to address the problem, too many jails continue to fail in providing…
In Idaho, harsh drug sentences are a significant driver behind the rising rates of female incarceration. Over the past few decades, the state’s tough-on-crime policies, particularly regarding drug-related offenses, have led to an alarming increase in the number of women behind bars. Many of these women are incarcerated for non-violent offenses, often related to addiction…
Idaho’s public defense system is about to undergo a seismic shift, leaving many attorneys and officials concerned about the future of legal representation in the state. Beginning Oct. 1, a system 10 years in the making will give the newly formed State Public Defender office broad control over county public defense services. The changes, made…
I need to be able to protect my patients’ lives, their health and future fertility without fear of becoming a felon, writes guest columnist Kylie Cooper. Read more here.
[A]n estimated 5,127 women in Idaho won’t have the option to seek abortion care out of state because of parole or probation, according to a report by the Prison Policy Initiative…