BECKLEY, W.Va. — Beckley attorney Steve New said he has affidavits from three inmates of the Southern Regional Jail that they were bribed by members of the DHS and DOC to give good reports on the jails conditions.
New claimed he knows of at least three inmates who were bribed by the Department of Homeland Security and Division of Corrections into claiming that the conditions of the jail were good. Highly ranked officials of those two agencies would then offer the inmates, “favorable treatment.”
“This needs fixed, and it’s either going to be fixed by legislation, or litigation,” New said Monday on MetroNews Talkline.
The attorney asked for an investigation to be expanded on by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District Will Thompson.
An investigation took place last year by the state DHS and DOC, who looked into the conditions and possible problems of the state jail, but New claims the reports are false due to the bribery and that each department wanted to cover up the conditions of the jail.
New said those in charge of the investigation are high up in both departments.
“Very high members of both of those agencies were directly involved with the interviews and bribery of the inmates,” said New.
Governor Jim Justice’s chief of staff Brian Abraham didn’t address the allegations Monday, but did say they are cooperating with federal investigators.
Southern Regional Jail was equipped to house 488 inmates, although according to New, there are currently over 710 sitting at the jail now. 14 deaths have been reported from the jail in a little over the last year.