Adult Correctional Facilities
The Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) houses approximately 8,000 incarcerated individuals in ten state-owned prisons and five community reentry centers. Some are also held in county jails and when necessary, out-of-state contract facilities. The Contract Facility Monitoring division monitors contract facilities and county jails.
The status types of IDOC residents include termers, retained jurisdiction, and parole violators.
- Termers are individuals that a court has sentenced to a term of incarceration over one year in an IDOC facility.
- Retained jurisdiction or "riders" are individuals whom the court has retained jurisdiction over and have been sentenced to a period of incarceration in an IDOC facility. The IDOC assesses riders to determine their needs and places them in the appropriate facilities to receive intensive programming and education. Upon completion of a rider, the court determines whether to place the resident on probation or sentence them to term.
- Parole violators are people who violated the terms of their release on parole, or committed new crimes and are awaiting a revocation hearing from the Commission of Pardons and Parole. The Commission of Pardons and Parole can revoke parole and return the individual to complete their sentence or can reinstate them to parole.
The Idaho Department of Correction strives to keep our prison population positively engaged in education, treatment or work opportunities. To learn more about work opportunities for our residents, go to our Residents at Work page.
Offender Concerns and Grievance Process
The Idaho Department of Correction maintains a formal Offender and Grievance Process in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This process provides residents with a structured and consistent way to address concerns related to:
- Disciplinary actions
- Housing assignments or facility transfers
- Program access
- Property issues
- Institutional conditions
Promoting Responsibility & Accountability
IDOC believes it is important for residents to exercise personal responsibility and self-advocacy by utilizing established procedures. The Offender Concern and Grievance Process is not only a mechanism for review — it is also an important component of institutional accountability and resident development.
By engaging in the grievance process, residents:
- Take ownership of their concerns
- Practice problem-solving within established rules
- Learn to navigate structured systems appropriately
- Develop skills necessary for successful reentry
Encouraging residents to follow policy and advocate for themselves through proper channels supports institutional order, fairness, and long-term behavioral growth.
Links to SOPs
Grievance and Informal Resolution Procedure for Offenders:
https://forms-idoc.idaho.gov/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=1744753&dbid=0&repo=LFICHE&cr=1
Holds, Cautions, Concerns, and Considerations: Offender:
Offender Placement Process:
Grievance and Appeal Procedure for Offenders: Probation and Parole:
