Posts > New Law Requires Effective Notice for Capias Hearings
June 8, 2023

New Law Requires Effective Notice for Capias Hearings

Huntington Herald-Dispatch – A law taking effect June 9 aims to help tackle the increasing number of capias arrests and reduce the state’s jail population.

Read the full article.

Passed in the 2023 legislative session, Senate Bill 633 establishes a uniform standard for addressing and streamlining capias arrests, also known as bench warrants, which have significantly increased the number of people entering West Virginia jails, according to the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy.

In a recent blog post, Sara Whitaker, the center’s criminal legal policy analyst, wrote that, from 2012 to 2022, capias arrests rose from 1,990 to 4,936, making up one in eight jail admissions in the state. This increase in capias arrests has contributed to the expansion of the jail population, despite declining crime rates and fewer criminal cases being filed, according to Whitaker.

Donate Today!
Icon with two hands to donate today.
Donate

Help Us Make West Virginia a Better Place to Live

Subscribe Today!
Icon to subscribe.
Subscribe

Follow Our Newsletter to Stay Up to Date on Our Progress