Public News Service

Despite reforms to reduce the use of juvenile life without parole sentences, thousands of youth and emerging adults have been left behind, according to The Sentencing Project report. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: WV has made progressive youth sentencing reforms

West Virginia has made significant criminal justice reforms in reducing harsh sentences for children, according to the latest report from The …

More than 2,000 people in prison currently face execution in the United States. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

200 people on death row exonerated since 1973

It's being called a historic milestone - 200 people have been exonerated after being sentenced to death since 1973, what's known as the modern era of …

A proposal making the rounds in Washington, D.C., would incentivize states to incarcerate fewer people in exchange for federal funds to retool their sentencing guidelines. (Adobe Stock)

Proposal: Pay states to change sentencing guidelines, reduce prison populations

In West Virginia, 11,000 people are behind bars, mostly in state prisons and local jails. A new proposal has surfaced to bring those numbers down but …

In 2018, America's top billionaires paid just 23% of their income in taxes, according to Americans for Tax Fairness. (Adobe Stock)

Report: America’s wealthiest now worth a record $5.8 trillion

The nation's billionaires have doubled their wealth over the past seven years, while working people in West Virginia and elsewhere continue to face …

In the last decade, West Virginia state jails were the deadliest in the country, with 91 people who have died in jails over the past four years. (Adobe Stock)<br />

As WV’s jail crisis mounts, ‘Second Look’ policies gain traction

Amid overcrowding and unsafe conditions in West Virginia jails, state lawmakers introduced bills that would allow judges to take a 'second look' at …

An estimated 16% of coal workers are affected by black lung disease and after decades of improvement, the number of cases of the disease is on the rise again, according to the American Lung Association. (Adobe Stock).<br />

Black Lung cases rise, as federal benefits stagnate

The benefit payments miners sick with black lung disease receive are not keeping pace with the cost of living, a new analysis showed. Current …

Since 2019, the total compensation paid to exonerees has nearly doubled. It now exceeds $4 billion, according to a new report by the National Registry of Exonerations. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Compensation to exonerated people nearly doubled in five years

People wrongfully convicted of crimes in the United States have received around $2.2 billion in compensation claims since 2019. A new report by the …

Nationwide, nearly four in 10 state prisoners and three in 10 federal prisoners reported having a disability, compared to 15% of the general population, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock/generated with AI)

People with disabilities over-represented in justice system

Nationwide, people with disabilities are overrepresented both as victims of crime and those who are accused of crimes, and advocates believe the …

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va (far left), and other lawmakers join President Joe Biden as he signs the Inflation Reduction Act into law on Aug. 16, 2022. (Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm/Wikimedia Commons)

Super PAC spending in WV Senate race ramps up as Manchin bows out

By Harshawn Ratanpal for OpenSecrets.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the OpenSecrets-Public News Serv…

Four of the five states that enacted the largest personal income tax cuts in the last few years have had slower job growth since enacting their cuts than the nation as a whole, according to the Center for Policy Budget Policy and Priorities. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WV personal income tax cut will cripple communities

A new report singles out West Virginia for the state's costly tax cuts enacted this year, and the drastic lost in revenue expected to exacerbate …

West Virginia has an incarceration rate of 731 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average of 664 per 100,000 people. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Report: Minorities a majority in WV prison population

A new study of incarceration trends shows Black people are jailed at a rate three times higher than their white peers in West Virginia, even though …

Research by the Economic Policy Institute finds that unionization leads to better pay and worker safety. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Unions Host Labor Day Celebrations Across West Virginia

Across the Mountain State today, unions are hosting Labor Day celebrations - in Baden City, Charleston, Mannington, Marmet, and Racine. Public …

According to the Sentencing Project, Between 2000 and 2020, the number of youths held in juvenile justice facilities fell from 109,000 to 25,000 - a 77% decline. (Adobe Stock)

Mounting Evidence Finds Youth Incarceration Ineffective

A wealth of research shows youth incarceration doesn't increase public safety or work for youth well-being, according to a recent report from the …

A new study reveals extent of the public health harms of U.S. oil and gas production, including more than $77 billion in human health damages nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

WV Among Top States for Public Health Harms from Fossil Fuels

Ozone, fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide from the oil and gas sector in 2016 caused more than $77 billion in human health damages …

The number of people brought to jail on a capias arrest in West Virginia increased from 1,990 in 2012 to 4,936 in 2022, according to the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New WV Law Aims to Address Jail Overcrowding

A new West Virginia law requires magistrates and judges to set a hearing within five days for people who've been arrested for not showing up to a cour…

The U.S. could run out of money to pay its bills by June 5, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Billions in WV Federal Funds at Stake as Debt Ceiling Looms

Over the weekend, lawmakers announced they have reached an agreement to reduce spending and address the debt limit. The deal needs a full signoff …

Coca-Cola workers in West Virginia recently went on strike. (Teamsters Local 175)<br />

WV Coca-Cola Workers End Strike, Say Grievances Still Ignored

More than one hundred workers at Coca-Cola plants in Logan and Charleston have returned to work after going on a days-long strike. Ken Hall - the …

In 2020, 1,750 children died of abuse and neglect in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Rising Inflation, Poverty, Puts WV Kids at Higher Risk of Abuse

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and experts say ongoing inflation, economic challenges and poverty can place stress on families and increase …

As more West Virginia families are affected by the criminal justice system, the number of advocates for pushing for change has increased. (Ashley Omps)

Reentry Poses Challenges for West Virginians' Life After Prison

West Virginians released from prison are not allowed to vote until their parole or probation period is over and their sentence is complete. Since …

Two in five U.S. voters say they are worried about threats of violence or voter intimidation at polling stations during the midterm election, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. (Adobe Stock)

WV Groups Warn Election Scare Tactics, Threats Weaken Voter Power

The risk of voter intimidation and political violence has increased since 2020, according to research from the Brennan Center for Justice. Two in …

Grupos de WV advierten que amenazas debilitan el poder de los votantes

El riesgo de intimidación de votantes y violencia política ha aumentado desde 2020, según una investigación del Centro Brennan …

West Virginia became the second state, after Indiana, to pass a new abortion ban since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. (Adobe Stock)

WV Dems Criticize Legislative Process That Led to Near-Total Abortion Ban

An eight-week abortion ban signed into law last month by Gov. Jim Justice has received widespread criticism for its lack of exceptions and severity …

Research shows around a quarter of Americans find it difficult to afford prescription drugs because of high out-of-pocket costs. (Adobe Stock)

Biden’s Insulin Cap is a Start, But WV Residents Can’t Afford Other Prescription Meds

The Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Joe Biden last month caps the cost of insulin at $35 per month for seniors who have Medicare…

A decades-long decline in abortions performed in the United States has now reversed, according to new data from the Guttmacher Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Restrictions, Uncertain Fate of Roe, Abortions Rise in U.S.

The latest U.S. Census data reveals abortions have been on the rise across the nation. A new report from the Guttmacher Institute found 8% more …

American billionaires saw their net worth climb by a collective $2 trillion, increasing 70%, during the first two years of the pandemic, according to Forbes data analyzed by Americans for Tax Fairness. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV Could Gain $335 Million a Year from Billionaire Income Tax

State advocacy groups say West Virginia stands to gain from taxing billionaires. The Biden administration's "Billionaire Minimum Income Tax" would …

The nationwide unemployment rate for Black workers is 73% higher than that of white workers, according to data from the Century Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

WV Lawmakers Move to Slash Jobless Benefits

A bill moving through the West Virginia Legislature would cut unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 12. Lawmakers cite cost and the need to push …

According to the Fines and Fees Justice Center, 48 states have laws that allow supervision fees to be charged to people on probation. (Adobe Stock)

Drug Offenders Could Get a Decade of Extended Supervision Under Proposed Law

People convicted of a second offense for selling or transporting fentanyl into the Mountain State could get up to a decade of extended supervision aft…

A mobile billboard is crisscrossing West Virginia to encourage Sen. Joe Manchin's support of President Joe Biden's

'Build Back Better' Plan Gets Mobile Billboard in WV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - You may spot a mobile billboard on your travels in West Virginia, and its creators hope the signage reminds people of how they …

In a new poll, 22% of rural voters think raising taxes on those earning over $400,000 a year could hurt the economy, while 51% believe it would help it. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Poll: Rural Voter Majority Supports Tax Increases on Wealthy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The latest poll by Americans for Tax Fairness found rural voters overwhelmingly support the idea of corporations and the wealthy …

The newest edition of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book explores how America's child population fared during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Poverty Continues to Stall Progress on WV Kids' Well-Being

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- New survey data offer a clear picture of how West Virginia kids and families are faring. The Mountain State ranks 44th in the …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by …

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., speaks at a breakfast discussion in 2017. <br />(Flickr/Third Way Think Tank/license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/)

Manchin’s Stance on Voting Bill Called Betrayal to WV Black Voters

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Black West Virginians are voicing disappointment and anger over Sen. Joe Manchin's - D-W.Va. - staunch opposition to the For the …

WV Groups Call on Manchin to Support 'For the People Act'

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A coalition of pro-democracy groups in West Virginia is urging U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito to support the …

To relieve overcrowding, a West Virginia bill would help inmates get access to classes required for reentry before, rather than after, parole starts. (Adobe stock)

WV Groups See Bill as Politicizing Parole Hearings

CHARLESTON, W.V. -- Criminal-justice advocates in West Virginia urged lawmakers to oppose a new bill they say would politicize parole hearings…

A West Virginia bill would charge some former drug offenders $50 a month in fees for extended supervision for up to 10 years. (Adobe stock)

WV Groups See Criminal Reform Bill as Regression to ‘War on Drugs’

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Criminal-justice advocates are urging West Virginia lawmakers to oppose a bill heading to the Senate that would add up to 10 …

A survey shows more than 27% of West Virginia households with children have

WV Groups: Passage of American Rescue Plan Critical for Recovery

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - With the U.S. Senate on the verge of voting on President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID rescue plan, advocates for West Virginia …

About 44% of prisoners in West Virginia's regional jails are being held pretrial because they can't afford cash bail. (Adobe Stock)

As Jails Overflow, WV Lawmakers Examine Reform Measures

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Research shows West Virginia is the only state to increase its jail population in 2020. In an online panel, state lawmakers …

A West Virginia state delegate is facing sanctions for participating with pro-Trump groups storming the U.S. Capitol. (Wikimedia Commons)

Thousands Call for Removal of WV Lawmaker for Joining U.S. Capitol Riot

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia social-justice groups are decrying a state delegate's participation in the shocking assault on the U.S. Capitol …

It's estimated that people in jail or prison are being infected by COVID-19 at rates more than five times higher than the nation's overall infection rate. (Adobe Stock)

As COVID Blasts Packed WV Prisons, Stronger Action Needed

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - As the number of COVID-19 cases in West Virginia jails skyrockets, advocates for incarcerated people are urging Gov. Jim Justice …

Members of a West Virginia NOW group rally in Charleston, saying the Senate should have waited until after the election to push through a Supreme Court nominee. (Kanawha Valley NOW Facebook page)

WV Groups Protest SCOTUS Nominee, Urge Senate to Refocus on COVID Relief

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- On the day of the confirmation vote of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, a coalition of West Virginia groups protested in …

A U.S. House bill would support 40 programs nationwide that team social workers with police departments to respond to mental health-oriented emergency calls. (Adobe Stock)

WV Support for Mental-Health Alternatives in 9-1-1 Calls

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Mental and behavioral health practitioners in West Virginia are endorsing legislation in Congress to fund the use of social …

A new West Virginia state law requires a faster hearing if a defendant with a low-level misdemeanor charge can't afford bail. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Push New WV Bail Reform Law to Stem COVID-19 Spread in Jails

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- A coalition of prison reform groups is asking court officials in West Virginia to make better use of the newly passed bail …

Advocates for renters in West Virginia are already seeing an uptick in evictions since the pandemic began, and expect to see a rise in first-time homelessness as a result of job loss. (Adobe Stock)

WV Housing Groups Brace for Evictions as Courts Reopen

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia's court system has reopened, after being closed to limit the spread of the new coronavirus. Now, advocates for …

Some West Virginia counties are easing work requirements for SNAP recipients during the novel coronavirus outbreak. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WV Population 'Most at Risk in U.S.' for Coronavirus

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- With Gov. Jim Justice issuing a stay-at-home order this week to battle COVID-19, a new report warns West Virginia has one of the …

The list price of insulin has nearly tripled since 2002, according to the American Diabetes Association. (Adobe stock)

WV Legislation Aims to Slash Insulin Copays

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Concern over the soaring cost of prescription drugs has spurred the West Virginia Senate to consider a bill that would help …

Reform advocates in West Virginia are backing a bill to ease overcrowding in regional jails. (Adobe stock)

WV Bills Target Driver's License Suspensions, Prison Overcrowding

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Supporters of criminal justice reform in West Virginia say two bills under consideration would ease overcrowding in jails and …

West Virginians' reactions to Sen. Joe Manchin's vote this week to impeach President Donald Trump have ranged from angry to supportive. (Wikimedia)

Manchin’s Vote to Impeach Trump Prompts Intense Responses

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - As President Trump takes a victory lap over his impeachment acquittal this week, the nation is reacting strongly to guilty votes …

The civil rights group Fairness West Virginia is urging lawmakers to pass the Fairness Act for LGBTQ protections in the state. (Fairness West Virginia)

WV Groups Back Bill Providing LGBTQ Legal Protections

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- LGBTQ groups in West Virginia are fighting to pass the Fairness Act in this year's legislative session. The bill ensures that …

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WV: Social Justice