A new report says there are ways West Virginia can slow its prison population growth and improve public safety.
The Justice Reinvestment Initiative, which was asked last year to conduct the study by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, says the state can ease its overcrowding problem by doing a better job assessing those convicted of crimes and doing a better job keeping an eye on them when they get out of jail.
West Virginia’s crime rate is one of the lowest in the nation but it leads to the U.S. in growth of inmate population. That has caused hundreds of state prison inmates to be held in regional jails, leaving those overcrowded.
The report, released Tuesday, says the state can save $340 million by sending fewer people to prison and not having to build a new state prison. The report recommends $25 million be invested in programs to get a handle on the state’s drug abuse problem.
The report also says everyone released from prison would be required to go into a period of community supervision in hopes of reducing the chances of their return to prison.
State Supreme Court Administrator Steve Canterbury is hailing the report and its recommendations. He tells MetroNews this could be the start of getting a handle on overcrowding in the state’s prisons and jails.
“I think we’ll be able to look at this year as the year things started to turn right about our public safety and overcrowding problem in correctional facilities in our state,” Canterbury said.
The state Supreme Court has already adopted one of the recommendations. It approved a new policy Tuesday that will require all convicted felons to undergo a risk and needs assessment profile before they are sentenced by a circuit judge.
“This will allow for the judges to have more information at their disposal about whether they can feel comfortable putting somebody on probation or comfortable about putting somebody in prison,” Canterbury said.
The new requirement will begin Aug. 1.
The report’s recommendations are expected to be a part of Gov. Tomblin’s legislative agenda for the upcoming 60-day regular session. Canterbury says the study gives policymakers the information they need.
“My hope is the legislature will embrace those areas that require legislative changes and that the administration will embrace those things that require procedural or policy changes that don’t need legislation,” Canterbury said.
A group of lawmakers is already familiar with the recommendations. They’ve been part of a working group that’s been with the Justice Reinvestment Initiative.
The full report can be accessed by visiting the CSG Justice Center webpage at www.justicereinvestment.org.
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Comments
Habib Haddad
Revisit the pot head convictions and if they do not rise to the level of felony, pardon them. Voila! Overcrowding issue becomes a non-issue.
January 22, 2013 at 7:58 pm | Report comment
Jethro
Mandatory rehab would help also
January 22, 2013 at 8:47 pm | Report comment
Jon
This is what is wrong with society. Politicians want to take away guns from law abiding citizens while allowing criminals to go free because of overcrowding. I have an idea, lets take 10,000 acres that environmentalist want preserved, build one big prison on five acres, and let the inmates spend their time keeping the rest of it pristine.
January 22, 2013 at 10:08 pm | Report comment
NorthernWVman
wish there was a "LIKE" button for this one!!
January 23, 2013 at 8:04 am | Report comment
Slingblade33
Jon....funny...and true
January 22, 2013 at 10:18 pm | Report comment
Randy
I agree with you Jon. In addition to keeping the rest pristine, let them farm it out to raise their own produce and meat to be self supportive and save the tax payers some tax dollars.
January 23, 2013 at 7:41 am | Report comment
Joe
We need to stop making the prisons such a comfortable place to be. Let's go back to chain gangs. Put those who break the law to work cleaning up our state, working on our roads. If they want to eat, make them grow their own vegetables, make them raise their own meat. Make them self sustainable. This would do three things. Teach them the skills necessary to survive in the real world and save our state money and discourage them from being sent back.
January 23, 2013 at 8:11 am | Report comment
Ed
There is a wonderful old facility in Moundsville,Icould be used again with little remodeling.For a small fee you can tour the old prison. Just take a sunday afternoon and drive to Moundsville and see for yourself. I watch a lot of Lockup Shows on tv and it is as good of shape as some i have seen on tv still in use
January 23, 2013 at 8:40 am | Report comment
NorthernWVman
actually Ed the prison in Moundsville is in disrepair. They only give you a tour of the areas that are not condemned. If they would show all the areas it would be clear that this could not house offenders. For example the gym floor is so buckled it looks like it is a sea of waves.
January 23, 2013 at 11:36 am | Report comment
Shadow
Re-institute the Death Penalty and get that 10,000 acres. Anyone that watches the ID Channel knows that most criminals repeat their crimes so how can the government let them out to prey upon the good part of society? It doesn't make any sense. As to a new prison, Sheriff Joe does a good job with wire, tents, bloomers, and baloney.
January 23, 2013 at 8:41 am | Report comment
wvualum99
Here's one..
How about making prison life difficult as it was intended to be. Let's get back to the way it should be in that going to prison is a scary thought. Get rid of the weight rooms, gymnasiums, computers, etc. and all of the other frivilous entities. They should be in a cell all day every day, not some "dorm" type of environment. Prison should be an environment where NO ONE wants to return to, not some place where if they go back, its no big deal. There are just too many "luxuries" in prisons these days. All I hear is that we need to pass levies and bonds for the board of education in order to do this or that with schools. How about taking the money spent on the prison "luxuries" and pumping it into our childrens' schools and associated programs?
January 23, 2013 at 8:44 am | Report comment
Wango
This article is not about making prisons more comfortable. It is about adopting methods that have been proven in other states to reduce recidivism and increase public safety. If adopting these recommendations works the same for West Virginia as it has in others, the state could be looking at millions of dollars in savings that could then be investing in improving schools, roads, etc. If the state does nothing about overcrowding, the opposite will happen and we will have to invest millions of dollars to build another prison and millions more on top of that each year to operate it.
January 25, 2013 at 2:25 pm | Report comment
Docbegone
West Virginia’s crime rate is one of the lowest in the nation but it leads the U.S. in growth of inmate population. That has caused hundreds of state prison inmates to be held in regional jails, leaving those overcrowded.
How can we have the lowest and highest at the same time? Can someone please explain?
January 23, 2013 at 10:03 am | Report comment
Wango
It means that we incarcerate more criminals than other states instead of utilizing alternative sentencing options like probation for example. it could also mean that we do not grant parole as easily as other states. For example, Maybe in Minnesota a second time nonviolent drug user might get probation instead of being incarcerated. whereas in West Virginia, our solution is to incarcerate. In other words, it means West Virginia tends to use incarceration as the first, last and only means of correctional rehabilitation.
January 25, 2013 at 2:15 pm | Report comment
Samantha
All of the comments above are blowing my mind. I understand that there are offenders who deserve to rot in prison however there are others who were at the wrong place at the wrong time. You people have obviously never had a loved one in prison before. I currently do and understand completely about this overcrowding issue. Regardless of the crime these are still human beings. There are necessities that inmates still have rights too that they are not receiving because of these overcrowding problem. Before running your mouths about how harshly we should treat inmates maybe you should be on the other side of that glass with your loved one and say those words to me then. You guys have no right to judge others. Some people need that wake up call to change their lives around but you obviously dont see any positives for someone who has been an inmate. I am so disgusted right now this is why the world is where they are.....everyone judging everyone else.
February 11, 2013 at 9:01 am | Report comment
Jima.
I applaud you Samantha for telling the truth....I spent close to 30 years in Huttonsville and Moundsville for foolish petty drug crimes I committed when I was addicted to opiates.I am not a murderer or rapist.....there was no substance abuse programs and the AA/NA meetings was a joke. I have 7 years of sobriety with the help of Suboxone....prison did not break me....it stole my hopes and dreams!
April 12, 2013 at 8:39 am | Report comment