Public News Service

According to federal data, law enforcement accounted for 82% of all delinquency cases referred to juvenile court in 2019. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WV NAACP lawsuit says state agencies failed to collect juvenile justice data

West Virginia state agencies have failed to collect data on incarcerated youth, according to a new lawsuit filed by the West Virginia NAACP in the …

Thousands of Charleston, West Virginia, residents signed a petition to create a municipal measure to reduce penalties for marijuana possession. (Adobe Stock)

WV city OKs measure reducing jail time, fees for marijuana possession

Charleston City Council members have greenlighted a citizen-led municipal measure to reduce local penalties for some marijuana possession offenses…

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 …

Public records show West Virginia police officers are allowed to switch departments after being fired or resigning for misconduct. (Adobe Stock)

In lieu of termination: Tracking WV police officers after misconduct incidents

By Kyle Vass for Dragline.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the ACLU of West Virginia-Public News Servi…

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 …

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 …

According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, more than 400,000 people nationwide received methadone as part of their addiction treatment in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Methadone prescription bill could ease restrictions for West Virginians

Senate lawmakers are soon expected to vote on the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act, legislation introduced this year by Republican Sen…

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 …

A decade ago, the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation began to privatize prison food, signing a three-year, $145 million contract with Aramark with the reported goal of reducing prison operating costs. (Adobe Stock)

WV prison food: Rotten or poor quality, lawsuits, lack of oversight

West Virginia's contracts with Aramark Correctional Services have come under scrutiny after a lawsuit brought by incarcerated residents, alleging …

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, approximately one in five youths held in juvenile facilities are awaiting trial and have not been found guilty or delinquent. (Adobe Stock)

Fewer juveniles locked up in WV; recommendations to continue the trend

The number of children behind bars in West Virginia has declined significantly in recent years, but their advocates said more work could be done to …

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2020 median salary for a police officer was $67,290, more than one-third higher than the national median for all occupations. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ballooning Costs for Police Overtime Pay in Charleston, WV

The City of Charleston continues to funnel massive amounts of funding toward law enforcement. According to a new report, since 2020, Charleston's …

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 …

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…

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 …

Nationwide, prison populations dropped dramatically from 2019 to 2020, mainly the result of emergency responses to the pandemic. They're now on the uptick again, according to a Prison Policy Initiative report. (Adobe Stock)

WV Program Mentors People Re-Entering Society After Prison

West Virginia's prison population has ballooned, and formerly incarcerated people face numerous obstacles when they are released. A Charleston-based …

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…

Many states have expanded voting access to people with felony convictions, but it's estimated that more than 5 million Americans remain disenfranchised, according to The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Bill Would Restore Rights for West Virginians on Probation, Parole

West Virginians with past felonies who are on probation and parole currently are barred from voting, but new legislation aims to change that…

More than 300,000 West Virginia kids live in a county officially served by a Child Advocacy Center. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WV Saw Increase in Child-Abuse Cases Last Year

More than 600 child abuse charges were filed in West Virginia last year, and 94% of alleged offenders were someone the child knew. That's according …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Members of Appalachians Against Pipelines protest against the Mountain View Pipeline in West Virginia in 2018. (Appalachians Against Pipelines/Facebook)

WV Bill Would Criminalize Peaceful Environmental Protests

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Environmental groups spoke out this week against a West Virginia House of Delegates bill that would make peaceful protests …

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 …

The Appalachian Prison Book Project maintains a supposedly free tablet reading program in West Virginia prisons profits off the people who are incarcerated and their families. (Pixabay)

People in WV Prisons Charged Steep Fees for “Free” Books

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – When prison technology company Global Tek Link, or GTL, announced in October that it was providing hundreds of free …

According to new research, people with mental illness or other problems often end up in jail awaiting trial because the community may lack other good options for them. (Prison Policy Initiative)

U.S. Jails Crowded with People Not Convicted, but Awaiting Trial

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Across America, the population in local and regional jails has tripled in the last 40 years. And new research suggests …

Until lifting it last week, West Virginia was one of only three states to maintain a ban on accessing SNAP benefits for people with drug felony convictions. (WV Center on Budget and Policy)

WV Law Praised for Lifting Ban on SNAP Benefits

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Recovering addicts say a change in West Virginia food-assistance rules will help them stay clean and out of trouble…

The United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, but a number of states and companies are taking steps to make it easier for ex-offenders to get jobs. (ElasticComputeFarm/Pixabay)

In Tight Labor Market, Some Major Companies to Drop Criminal Check

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Leading U.S. companies and trade groups have committed to welcome more new hires with criminal backgrounds. These employers …

West Virginia had the nation's worst rate of opioid deaths in 2016, and the worst rate of deaths from prescription and synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, in 2017. (alarsenault/Pixabay)

Study: Opioid Crisis Worst in Troubled Rural Areas and Cities

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – While the opioid crisis has touched West Virginians from all walks of life, new research finds some communities are more …

In some parts of West Virginia, the demand for foster parents is so high the system is being forced to turn to the classroom. (wokandapix/Pixabay)

Ohio County Teachers Step into Foster Care Emergency

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – In Ohio County, W.Va., the drug crisis is breaking up so many homes that the public schools are forced to ask teachers and …

Former addicts in West Virginia say making it easier for reformed felons to receive public benefits would help them stay free of drugs. (lechenie-narkomanii/Pixabay)

Lifetime SNAP Ban Makes Life Harder for Reformed Drug Felons

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Reformed drug felons in West Virginia are blocked from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and some want the …

Despite being a congressional candidate, Carol Miller has almost entirely avoided answering questions from reporters. (Carol for Congress)

Miller Addresses Pain-Pill Wholesaler Stock Ownership

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – This week, Delegate Carol Miller, a candidate for Congress in West Virginia's Third District publicly answered charges that …

After three investigations and a month of hearings before a House committee, articles of impeachment for all the justices of the West Virginia Supreme Court now go to the House of Delegates. (Dan Heyman)

WV Impeachment Enters a More Partisan Stage

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Articles of impeachment for every member of the West Virginia Supreme Court are now before the full House of Delegates…

One reason cited for the high cost of the West Virginia Supreme Court office renovations is the age and historic nature of the Capitol building. (Wikipedia)

WV Lawmakers Get Some Answers on State Supreme Court Budget

CHARLESTON, W. Va. – Former Administrative Director of the Courts of West Virginia Steve Canterbury testified before the state's House …

Half of mass shootings involve family or domestic violence, according to research. (Pixabay)

Link Cited Between Mass Shootings, Domestic Violence

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – There is a strong link between mass shootings and domestic violence, according to an analysis of seven years of shootings …

Charleston Attorney Rico Moore helped write a packet of instructions for people interested in taking advantage of West Virginia's Second Chance for Employment Act. (BlackLight Initiative/Facebook)

Group Sees Strong Response to WV Second-Chance Law

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A new organization is seeing huge interest in helping folks use West Virginia's new Second Chance law. The BlackLight …

Alexei Wood is the only journalist still facing felony charges after being swept up in the arrests of rioters at Donald Trump's presidential inauguration. (Alexei Wood/Youtube)

Photojournalist’s Felony Trial Raises Free Speech Issues

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Press groups and photojournalist Alexei Wood say there are troubling implications to Wood's trial on charges of multiple …

West Virginia is one of a handful of states without the death penalty. Support for capital punishment is at its lowest point since 1972. (Jay Coop/Nat'l. Conference of State Legislatures)

Lowest Support for Death Penalty in Decades

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The number of Americans who favor the death penalty continues to drop, with a new Gallup poll finding the level of support is at …

People with criminal records often struggle to find employment once they are out of prison. A new website aims to help. (Pixabay)

Website Offers Second Chance for Job Seekers

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – It can be hard to find a job, but imagine doing it with a criminal record. An estimated 70 million people have records …

Critics say U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' renewed

Could Mandatory Sentences Undermine Criminal-Justice Reform?

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A directive from U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions could shift additional burdens onto West Virginia's courts and prisons…

A group of protesters at the West Virginia State Capitol, awaiting the arrival of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price. (Public News Service-Dan Heyman) (Note: photo was originally misidentified. Heyman took the photo, he was not in it.)

At WV State Capitol, Questions Land a Reporter in Jail

CHARLESTON, W. Va. - Reporter Dan Heyman, who covers West Virginia and Virginia for Public News Service, was arrested inside the State Capitol in …

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WV: Criminal Justice